RHS Gold - Medalist Kate Gould has establish herself as one of the chair Garden Designers in the UK .
She and her team won multiple laurels for the Chelsea Flower Show garden Kate designed in 2022 ( named ‘ Out of the Shadows ’ ) including ‘ Best Sanctuary Garden ’ and ‘ Best Construction ’ .
Her design business , which began as a one - charwoman show over 20 long time ago , has now grown into a big squad , which Kate herself name as ‘ tight - knit ’ and ‘ highly skilled ’ .
I speak with her to acquire how she work up a career as a Garden Designer and learn more about her passion for horticulture .
How Did You First Get Into Gardening?
“ My mama gardened as well as both of my grandmothers , so I was always advance to be outside , ” shares Kate .
“ My first horticultural memory is of this piddling trough my female parent had that wasfilled with godetia . There were some weeds in there too , so one daytime , when I was around 3 years sometime , she showed me how to weed them out .
“ I end up weeding all the godetias out and left the actual Mary Jane – I do n’t know what that says about me ! ”
Image provided byRichard Waite Photography
What Led You To A Career In Garden Design?
“ Nothing was plan . I leave school and I worked for a company that was growing very quick ; we were even doing the filing in the men ’s toilets !
“ Because of this , I wanted to do something to slack in the even , so I went look for a course . I ended up on a Garden Design course with the most amazing private instructor who I am still friends with today 25 years later .
“ I really struck amber with her . If I had someone else learn me , I might not be doing what I ’m doing now . ”
Image provided byHelen Fickling Photography
Do You Have A Process For Designing Gardens?
“ Fundamentally , you ’ve vex to listen , as every node has unlike needs , ” say Kate .
“ Whether they hail to you because they like your way or they want something that ’s unique to them , you have to listen to sympathize what will be best for their blank . ”
Do You Have A Favourite Memory Of A Garden You’ve Designed?
“ The ones that adhere in my memory are ordinarily secret client garden because it is so much more about the someone and doing something unique for them .
“ Having say that , the gardens that are truly anchored in my nous are the Show Gardens at the likes of Chelsea .
“ This is because the whole process is compressed into such a tiny amount of time and you are there all day every day working with your team . You never have that experience in a real garden , as you are not there every day . ”
Image provided byNicola Stocken Photography
“ It ’s also how we build teamwork because if you’re able to work through that together , you’re able to work through anything . ”
How Did Your 2022 Award-Winning Chelsea Flower Garden ‘Out Of The Shadows’ Come About?
“ It was about our chemical reaction to the pandemic and what our clients wanted , which was somewhere to be safe , exercise and relax , ” she explains .
“ The clime is changing and it was our adjustment of that too . We wanted to show that you could produce more interesting plants , which is ironic now because we then had the frigid winter in about 10 long time afterwards ! ”
Do You Have Any Standout Career Moments?
“ Last year at Chelsea was pretty limited , as we won three awards for one garden .
“ However , the standout moments for me are when everyone is in the office . It ’s right-down carnage and so much fun – I always end up locked in a closet !
“ Those are the bit that make what I do special because it ’s about the people , not the garden . ”
What Does Gardening Mean To You?
“ I ’m happiest when I ’m garden and I think that tell you a lot , ” Kate shares .
“ horticulture for myself is what gives me the most amount of joy , as I have the exemption to move thing around and sample newfangled things out that I would n’t necessarily seek out on a node straight aside . ”
“ Every twenty-four hours ’s a school 24-hour interval with gardening . ”
Do You Have Anything In The Pipeline You’d Like To Share?
“ We ’re perpetually roll up new projects out , it ’s ridiculous , ” she laughs .
“ We ’re photographing things all over the res publica at the present moment . There ’s a heap going on . ”
Do You Have Any Advice For Aspiring Garden Designers?
“ My advice would be to not run before you could take the air .
“ Do n’t think that a garden at Chelsea or Hampton Court is your jumping-off point to achiever . Your springboard is capitalize on your client , making them happy and get referral from them to build your byplay .
“ When you know how to work up a garden , you could attempt a showground , but you need to sympathize the basics first . Learn your trade really well and then endeavor to show it to everyone .
“ Do n’t show them what you’re able to do when you know nothing . ”
