back to garden designer index page ...

Theresa Knight

Contact Address - House 2, The Gatehouse School, Crosslands, Stantonbury, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK14 6AX

Phone: 01908 311823
Mobile: 07900 882740
Email - formagarden@aol.com
Web Site - www.formagarden.co.uk

Design - It depends on the client – but I always like to put a contemporary twist in to my gardens

Area based - Beds, Bucks, Herts & Northants

Experience - I have over 10 years experience in designing, constructing and planting gardens.

Qualifications - HNC Design & Management of Gardens (Pershore), RHS General (Distinction), RHS Advanced Certificate in Horticulture (Commendation), RHS Diploma in Horticulture (Completion due 2006)

Awards - RHS Silver-Gilt Medal (BBC Gardener’s World Live 2001), RHS Commended (Best Educational Award) for THRIVE (BBC Gardener’s World Live 2002), RHS Bronze Medal, ‘Sunflower Street’ (BBC Gardener’s World Live 2003).

Most exciting garden designed - Always the one I am working on at the time.

What inspires you about each garden that you design? - Working with a client to create a place of beauty, functionality and individual atmosphere

Is there a plant that seems to be consistently used in your designs? - Each garden is unique therefore the planting is individually tailored to create the special atmosphere of the place. Above all, it is the plants that breathe life into the garden. I grow many of my own plants to use in my designs, this enables me to use more unusual plants so I can offer something a bit different to my clients.

How do your clients cope with looking after their garden once you and your team have left? – I always design a garden with my client’s expectations of maintenance in mind, so each garden should suit their individual lifestyle. I offer an aftercare service for gardens that I have built if required.

What is the average time scale for a typical garden? From design to garden completion it can take anything from 3 months to over a year, depending on the size and complexity of the job. Great gardens can’t be rushed.

Advice to would be designers - it is a multi-faceted and endlessly fascinating job but can be quite isolated at times. You need to be dedicated and determined. A good qualification in garden design is important but so too is practical construction experience and a thorough grounding in horticulture. I don’t feel that enough designers put enough emphasis on the plants.

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

Pictures kindly donated by Theresa Knight

© Reckless Gardener Magazine 2005 Mill Cottage New Media