Raine Clarke - Wills is an award - winning Garden Designer with over 22 years of experience , create sensational and unique gardens across the south of England .
Her work has been recognised at the RHS Hampton Court Palace bloom show , where she has designed and build five award - winning gardens since 2009 .
Can you describe your journey into garden design and what inspired you to pursue this career?
“ I have always been cheer by gardens , ” Raine begins .
“ I had my own garden patch at school at the age of 4 and fell in making love . From then on , I found any apology to be outdoors make in nature .
“ I remember creating my own garden in my first house when I was 20 year old . At this stage it was my peace and was how I spent my free time , but I had n’t thought of pursue it as a career .
“ I had a long journey of varied work experience from Flight Attendant , through to sales and everything in between . It was only after I had my children that I took the opportunity to build a career around my love .
“ I am mindful of how rosy I am to be so excited on a Sunday evening , anticipating Monday morning , and a new opportunity to do what I love . There are so many reasons why this chore inspires me .
“ I am naturally tie to the great unwashed , I like finding out what makes them tick . I am a big truster in share any cognition that I have acquired in my years of design and edifice gardens and this is something I intend to do with each client . I am inspired by bringing nature into contemporary keep .
“ During the design process , there is a top point where one can see the pragmatic elements of the modern - day living experience complect attractively with nature . This link is create seamlessly through the careful orchestration of form and structure . ”
With over 22 years of experience in garden design, how has the industry evolved during this time, and how have you adapted to these changes?
“ I have find that the great unwashed want their gardens to be extension of their homes now , ” she explains .
“ They want to savour every moment they can alfresco , resting , entertaining , socialization and cookery , amongst other things . I believe I have noticed a dull transmutation towards this over clock time , but it was decidedly accelerated by the pandemic . I believe the circumstances moved masses to appreciate the exemption to go outside and delight the precious moment that nature supply us with .
“ At the same prison term , I think it motivated hoi polloi to do more with their outdoor spaces , especially as at one point this was the only contact with the outside that was possible . The fashion that this portray itself in design work is the inclusion body of kitchen , dining areas and increased tax shelter such as full - covering pergolas , to enable people to enjoy their garden year - round .
“ I had this plan of attack from the very beginning of my life history , I believe a garden to be a home just as much as a theatre . However , with this in brain , I have become more attentive to how we share our outdoor spaces with the rest of Mother Nature .
“ I draw a bead on to make garden that have a positive impact on the environment . I believe by making the right choices , we can achieve a good for you symbiosis between humans and the residual of nature . ”
You’ve designed and built five award-winning gardens for the RHS Hampton Court Palace flower show since 2009. Can you share the inspiration behind one of your favourite designs for this show?
“ One of my preferred gardens was ‘ stratum and link ’ . It was inspired by the musical theme of someone travelling around the world and wanting to create a garden that was influence by the beaut and culture of the commonwealth they had travelled to .
“ It was signify to evoke nostalgia from the memories of various different place around the globe . The purpose possess fair forms and structure , balanced by soft , pretty planting .
“ My favored part was a Iranian - style rug that we create from part of the paving shape . I have always enjoyed travelling and often employ the metre to look for elements to integrate into my design body of work , as I believe there is a lot we can teach from unlike cultures . ”
What are the key elements you consider when designing a garden for a client?
“ I do n’t have specific cardinal element in nous as everyone is different , ” says Raine .
“ I always go in with the approach of want to learn about the client . I do this through an in - depth exploration of who they are , their lifestyles , values and what they are looking to achieve .
“ Often they wo n’t acknowledge right away and part of my job is to ask the right questions , that both urge on and perhaps gainsay their preconceptions . My clients are always at the focal decimal point of the intention physical process . ”
How can gardeners promote biodiversity in their gardens?
“ Biodiversity play an important part in make environmentally well-disposed garden . Part of this involves [ the ] use of successional planting , includingplanting that attracts pollinatorsand other louse , to ascertain gardens perform optimal ecological operation all year round .
“ comrade planting can be used in lieu of pesticides , which guarantee we are not harming nature ’s creatures . Wildflower lawn and green roof are a beautiful room to integrate a habitat for wildlife into a design .
“ Using trees and hedge for beautiful bound can form havens for wildlife and have the added benefits of trapping pollutant and salt away carbon copy . Eco - well-disposed water lineament are also a welcome addition to animals , they can attract fowl and other insect as well as bring home the bacon a family for water - dwell creatures and nutrition for creature .
“ Aquatic and marginal plants can be used to oxygenate the body of water . I opine the master period is that with the ripe pick you could create a garden that is both aesthetically beautiful , as well as primed for human beings to live alongside nature . ”
How can you mitigate the effects of extreme weather conditions on a garden?
“ This is a hot topic moot the effects of climate variety on our weather conditions , ” Raine explains .
“ Using springy and divers planting can be a great help . A good example of this would be the elegantCarpinus betulus . drouth - insubordinate plant admit Lavandula , Rosmarinus officinalis , andvarious metal money of Salvia .
“ When it comes to flooding , you may protect your garden by see to it there are n’t any seal airfoil and utilize a permeable paving design to ensure water can enfeeble into the soil . Evergreen hedging are also an fantabulous means to protect your garden from extreme rainfall . ”
Are there any trends or innovations in garden design that you believe will shape the future of the industry?
“ protect the environment is of the farthermost grandness . Along these descent , gullible ceiling are an ingenious and beautiful way to encourage biodiversity , protect from flooding , and even cut down on the need for heating as they provide insulant .
“ When design well they are a sensational symbolisation of how we can live in a way that works with modern living , while also being deep interconnected to nature ”
Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about?
“ I am very excited about a flesh that has just start , ” she shares .
“ There is a large area of space , which is a dream political program to create from . The patch overlooks stunning survey of the countryside . The client legal brief included introducing formalities and sharpness , which created an exciting challenge in how to transition this contrast into the indulgent telephone circuit of the countryside .
“ I am collaborating with an highly gifted sculptor on this project . Some of the element I am most emotional to see bring to life let in a striking curing of round steps alongsidea stunning wildflower meadow .
“ These step are made specially magnificent by an enchanting water feature that ’s set within the telling stonework , first running into a water supply run and then travelling beneath the feature steps and along intricate , interconnecting transmission channel embedded within each step . ”
