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Mike Wilkinson

Contact Address - Twin Cottage, Townsend, Chitterne, Warminster, Wilts BA13 0LF

Phone - 01985 851076
Mobile - 07770 923392
Fax - 01985 851076
Email-
mike@thegardenpath.co.uk
Web Site - www.thegardenpath.co.uk

Design - Across the board, I take into account the client's requirements, taste, life-style, and of course the garden conditions.

Area based - South & West of England including London

Background experience - 5 years running Garden Design business 'The Garden Path'. 3rd year working as Horticultural Researcher for 'Garden Invaders' BBC 1 garden makeover program. Lecturer in Garden Design, the Ivy House School of Interior Design Bath.

Qualifications -  Diploma in Garden Design, the English Gardening School.

Most exciting garden designed - A Georgian house on the side of a hill overlooking Stroud. We had to excavate tons of soil from around the house to create 'living space'. The soil we moved down the hill to create more lawns.

What inspires you about each garden that you design? - It is always a challenge to try to realise the aspirations of the client and to fit all their requirements into a garden while still creating a thing of balance and beauty.

Is there a plant that seems to be consistently used in your designs? Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

How do your clients cope with looking after their garden once you have left? I always try to design a garden taking into account how much maintenance the client ultimately wishes to carry out in their garden.

What is the average time scale for a typical garden? About 12 weeks for the design phase then it is up to budgets, booking of contractors and size of build.

Advice to would be designers? - You need to be extremely self-disciplined; you are often working alone at home so you need to be able to meet you own deadlines. However the rewards can be tremendous.

Web site and further details - www.thegardenpath.co.uk                  

Pictures kindly donated by Mike Wilkinson.

© Reckless Gardener Magazine 2005 Mill Cottage New Media