Initially work full - metre as a GP for twelve years , Peter Reader found his true calling in Garden Design when he made the change of career in 2011 .
Being a passionate gardener and construe garden pattern as a career become a possible action , Peter decided to pursue his passion at the respected KLC School of Design , graduating with Distinction .
He soon hit the ground running , obtain RHS Silver Gilt Medals for show gardens at RHS Hampton Court in 2013 and 2014 , including the People ’s Choice Award in 2013 .
He has since worked as an independent Garden Designer , crafting an miscellanea of garden stylus suited to each client , ranging from naturalistic to schematic planting .
What Is Your Earliest Memory Of Gardening Or Horticulture?
“ I was enamour by the garden as a young child , ” Peter lead off .
“ I have it off look the plant get along to life in spring and my Dad had a good - sized vegetable patch , which I found very exciting .
“ As a result , he made a modest veg speckle for me , where I set easy - to - growcrops like lettuceand radish , as well as a couple of pieplant plants . They were great because they grow so quickly , producing grand leave . ”
Can You Discuss Your Transition From A Full-Time GP To Garden Design? What Motivated This Change?
“ When I was a child , I was very concerned in doing something in the horticultural athletic field , but there was n’t really a career path I could follow when I was 18 , ” he explain .
“ My parents both puzzle out for the NHS and being a doctor seemed like a rewarding job , so I act on that . As I was act upon as a GP , I see how garden design was taking off and I realised that it was something I need to do .
“ The more time went on , my inner drive to switch to a calling in garden intention have stronger . luckily , my married woman was very supportive , so I vacate from praxis and take a class out to retrain . ”
How Did Your Previous Careers Prepare You For Your Current Role As A Garden Designer?
“ There are a surprising number of similarity between the two roles . As a GP , you listen and verbalize to the great unwashed to understand what their problem are , and to help oneself them understand – supporting them through the process .
“ take a garden intent brief , coming up with a design and presenting that to the clients are key roles in garden design and so communicating is key to both jobs . likewise bear them through the build and execution phase is a cardinal skill , so there were a bunch of really useful transferable skills .
“ I ’m a solitary bargainer now , and GPs in my solar day were mostly self - employed so that definitely train me for running my own design business . It also gave me a solid ethical code of professionalism in my fresh role and I knew how important proper training was .
“ Even though I already knew a band about plants and garden , getting extra training in design , expression and a much wider largeness of industrial plant noesis was vital . ”
What Inspires You Creatively When Designing Gardens?
“ Nature is a adult thing for me , ” says Peter .
“ Nature ’s colours and Libra are so brilliant and the structure , form and configuration that plants take also inspires me . I draw a lot of intake from that and need to mirror the ataraxis and ambience that nature provides in my aim .
“ The other part of the jigsaw for me , is the gist of the space . The garden has to feel comfortable in its location . Of course , the client also has to be happy , although this often includes dispute them as well ! It ’s about tying all of this together . ”
How Do You Approach The Unique Challenges And Opportunities Presented By Different Types Of Spaces, Such As Small Urban Gardens Versus Larger Rural Landscapes?
“ You ’re often presented with a blank canvas or a accomplished mess which can be challenging . One of the first challenges is to identify the distance and consider the client ’s budget , but this is where the sum of the place is very helpful .
“ It guide you and allows you to place the guest ’s wishes in the linguistic context of that , so space , whether small or large , urban or rural , guide you in how to go forward .
“ It ’s also crucial to lay down some parameters with the client in initial coming together . Some of this link up to the budget , but also to the restriction of what plant life can rescue , as some guest have a very wretched savvy of how plants grow and live .
“ An almost universal challenge is delivering a unripened garden that has something interesting in it for the whole twelvemonth , specially in a little blank where every industrial plant is on display all year . I am certain we have all had clients who want plants that stay the same size and are fleeceable and flower all twelvemonth !
“ Touching on this , most client require a low - maintenance garden , although for many that means no alimony , which is insufferable . The challenge here is choose the correct type of plants for the ripe place and thinking about how they will change with clip and the time of year . ”
Do You Have Any Particular Favourite Memories Of A Garden You Have Designed?
“ There was quite a small garden in Hampstead that was previously laid with AstroTurf and the fences and decking were rotting , ” he shares .
“ The clients were updating the garden as much out of necessary as desire . It was one of my first garden , so it was really exciting to have a squad of hoi polloi come up in and fulfil my design .
“ This particular garden , when it was finished , was do it by the client and they have taken up gardening since . For a couple of old age after it was wind up , they would post me images of the heyday come through . That was very rewarding . ”
How Do You Address Environmental Considerations And Local Ecology In Your Garden Designs?
“ In a number of way . The first is thinking really carefully about the works . We have long spells of live , dry weather condition now with globose warming , especially in spring and summer , so you have to prefer the plant that can make out with that .
“ However , we still have wet , cold wintertime , so there ’s a tricksy balance you have to receive . Never compose off survive plants either , retaining what is already flourishing in a garden is a full of life skill .
“ Secondly , for me , the dirt is such a central component of any garden . If you keep the soil well and care for it as a living environment , then well - prefer plants will thrive .
“ The last thing is to consider very carefully about the hardscape , its green footprint and how it impacts the wide space through issues such as managing drain and retaining water within the garden . ”
Are There Any Particular Projects Or Collaborations You Are Looking Forward To?
“ The most challenging collaboration is working with nature as an equal partner and build up innovative approaches to delivering fresh garden , ” says Peter .
“ This include innovative approaches that drive sustainable futures and increase biodiversity as well as come down carbon copy emissions .
“ I recently wrote an article about how show garden are still trapped in a traditional mentality of old - fashioned horticulture , which can be prejudicious and not very environmentally friendly .
“ In many ways , garden figure is take the manner in term of greening things , but there is still a circumstances being done that is negative . Sometimes I feel I am doing ripe by increasing the amount of diverse planting and home ground in a garden , and other times I feel the opposite word as a new patio has just been laid .
“ The clause I wrote was a challenge to gaarden shows and the gardens that are promote at them . Equally significantly though , it also challenged how they are currently judged and the criterion used .
“ personal organiser of appearance do emphasise that all the garden should be relocate after manipulation which is great , but the judging criteria seem to still be pore on being aspirational in more mainstream designing ways , and often on being ‘ neat and tidy ’ .
“ So , I think run forward , I would like to be challenge masses ’s ideas around thinking about garden and what they are for . We need to take our principles about choosing the correct plant for the right stead and go with it through the whole gardenscape . ”
