Reckless Gardener - Online Gardening Magazine, including online gardening shop!

Design - I have designed all nature of gardens, from a six acre site in Tuscany to a six by six metre town garden and I enjoyed them all. I also have two areas of specialist knowledge – dedicated wildlife gardens (although all of my gardens are wildlife-friendly) and gardens for clients with special needs, such as gardens for wheelchair users or those with visual impairment. There is no charge for the initial meeting (unless travel outside the area specified below is involved). A design cost estimate is provided free of charge. Working with close landscape partners, I can project manage and see your garden dreams through from concept to completion.

Qualifications – Two year garden design course at Reading University and more than seven years experience as a garden designer.

Area based - Generally the Southeast, including London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire. For large projects I will travel nationwide and overseas.

Most exciting garden designed - All gardens are exciting because I enjoy working with clients to make their dream gardens become reality. Some of my greatest challenges were the six-acre site on a hill in Tuscany and a four by eight metre garden in Wokingham on a very tight budget.

What inspires you about each garden that you design? - The people I design it for, the challenges of the site and the landscape or townscape surrounding it.

Is there a plant that seems to be consistently used in your designs? – Not really. I choose plants that my clients love (they are shown pictures before), that will thrive on the site and will therefore be easy to maintain, and that are often very unusual. However, I do like to use plants that will lure the client into the garden even in winter.

How do your clients cope with looking after their garden once you and your team have left? – I present them with a detailed maintenance schedule, especially regarding pruning and walk them through the completed garden and answer any question they might have. If required, I will demonstrate pruning techniques. I also visit the gardens I have created from time to time and will advise.

What is the average time scale for a typical garden? There is no average time just as there is no typical garden. It all depends on the requirements of the clients. If a project is very urgent I will pull out all the stops and burn the midnight oil

Advice to would be designers – Learn to listen not only to what your clients say but also to what they don't say. Remember that you are dealing with dreams but that only well grounded knowledge of horticulture and landscaping will avoid turning those dreams into nightmares.