Gardening and interiors

I’m a keen gardener and love to share my enthusiasm. I’ve written growing guides, gardening projects, garden reviews and flower arrangement ideas, and covered the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, supplying both words and photos, for several outlets since 2007 (and exhibited my home-grown produce at an RHS show). My interest in design has also led to writing on interiors elements. Click on a link for the web page or PDF.

What to expect from the Chelsea Flower Show on Earth in 2023 | Culture Whisper, 2023
This year’s theme is the ways that gardening and gardens can contribute positively to our health and wellbeing, as well as to help the environment…read more

The lazy way to prepare for winter | Pennant, 2022
If you let your garden go to seed, the colder months could prove the most fruitful season yet for wildlife, plants – and you… read more

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022, Royal Hospital Chelsea | Culture Whisper, 2022
The greatest flower show on Earth returns to its seasonal spring home. Here’s our pick of the crop of gardening trends and stand-out show gardens… read more

Gardening for the future of fashion: Fashion Revolution at RHS Chelsea Flower Show | That’s Not My Age, 2022
Plants and fashion have been linked for millennia. Plants give us natural fibres for fabrics: cotton, bamboo, linen from flax are obvious examples – less obvious is the nettle family, which gives us ramie, and has been used for at least 6,000 years… read more

Best composite decking 2021 | Expert Reviews, 2021
If you’re planning to install decking in your garden, and don’t want to worry about constant upkeep, the best composite decking could be what you’re looking for. … read more

10 best garden benches to suit every outdoor space | Independent, 2021
Sales of garden furniture have boomed, growing by 120 per cent in the first three months of 2021 alone, as many of us continue to socialise outdoors amid the coronavirus and long summer evenings beckon… read more

Gardens through the seasons | Great West Way, 2021
The gardens of the Great West Way are beautiful whatever the season but here are the must-sees throughout the year… read more

Inside Iford Manor | Dream Escape, 2021
Thought lost after the Second World War, these exquisite Grade I listed gardens have been restored by two generations of the Cartwright-Hignett family – with some expert help… read more

Alternative, sustainable materials | The Insider, 2021
Revolutionary alternative materials made from volcanic ash, pineapple fibre and even cow dung are making bold claims in terms of their versatility and environmental impact… read more

Chelsea Flower Show postponed | Culture Whisper, 2021
The world’s most famous flower show will take place in September this year…read more

Top 10 butterflies to spot | BBC Countryfile, 2020
Most of Britain’s butterflies are on the wing over the summer months, so it’s a great time to get to know them better… read more

Re-using single-use plastic in the garden | Saga, 2019
Find out what you can do with single-use plastic in the garden or allotment… read more

Blogging for business | Studio, 2019
As social media is increasingly a part of business life, architects and interior designers are using it to get a new angle on their work… read more

The health benefits of houseplants | That’s Not My Age, 2019
The recent growth in popularity of houseplants is proof of the cyclical nature of trends; all those succulent-strewn Insta posts remind me of growing up in the 1970s… read more

Get into guerrilla gardening | Saga, 2019
Unearth the facts about the growing trend of freestyle cultivation of overlooked, unloved plots of public land… read more

5 trends to try at home from RHS Chelsea Flower Show | That’s Not My Age, 2019
As with what you wear, in the garden you have to work with what you’ve got: size and shape, the basic framework, classic pieces, like evergreens, that earn their place all year round… read more

20 things you didn’t know about holly and ivy | Saga, 2018
Discover more about the plants that have become symbols of the festive season… read more

Vertical garden ideas | Saga, 2018
A real architectural and horticultural trend, living walls are a clever way to maximise your growing space… read more

Tiny indoor gardens | Saga, 2018
Inspiring ideas for little indoor micro gardens, to cultivate whatever the weather… read more

Best ways to hide wheelie bins | Saga, 2018
Simple strategies to disguise unsightly wheelie bins… read more

Trends to take away from RHS Chelsea Flower Show | Guest blog for That’s Not My Age, 2018
Identifying gardening trends at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, photographing gardens/plants, writing the guest blog and delivering copy and photos within a few hours of visit… read more

Shrub sensations | The Lady, 2018
A potted history of rhododendrons and where to see them at their best… read more

Winter at Wisley | The Lady, 2018
A destination piece on what to see in winter in the garden at RHS Wisley… read more

Design classic: Farrow & Ball Down Pipe | Livingetc, 2017
A dark, warm grey with blue undertones, this colour was inspired by, you guessed it, the look of drainpipes… read more

Spring gardening | WI Life, 2017
Gardening news round-up… read more

Gardening trends to try from the Chelsea Flower Show | That’s Not My Age, 2017
As with catwalk fashion, garden design is taken to the extreme at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show… read more 

How to make fat balls for birds | Saga, 2017
Feed the birds in your garden with these homemade fat and seed balls… read more

Help for hard-working gardeners’ hands | Saga, 2017
Working outside in all weathers plays havoc with your hands, not to mention nails, but you can achieve hands that are as well-manicured as your lawn… read more

14 showstopper moments at the Chelsea Flower Show | Prima.co.uk, 2016
From Mary Berry to floral flights of fancy and celebrations of the Queen’s 90th birthday, the best of the bunch at the Chelsea Flower Show (photos and video taken by me, unless otherwise credited)… read more

7 Chelsea Flower Show trends you can replicate at home | CountryLiving.co.uk, 2016
We’ve toured this year’s Chelsea Flower Show to bring you some inspiring garden trends to get green-fingered with this summer (photos taken by me)… read more
This feature, with photos, was syndicated to Good Housekeeping