Noel Kingsbury is an influential material body at the heart and soul of the UK sphere of horticultural consultancy and planting design .
With a vocation spanning several decades , he is peculiarly noted for his advocacy of naturalistic and sustainable garden design – and his continued campaign to link up ecological principles with esthetical appeal .
Through his book , workshops , and projects – with brainwave ground in the app of thorough research – Noel carry on to inspire a new generation of gardener .
Your Journey In Horticulture Began At A Young Age. How Did This Early Passion Shape Your Career And Your Approach To Horticulture?
“ My father was a very keen nurseryman , so as a nipper , I would be out in the garden with him , ” shares Noel .
“ My mother was n’t a gardener , but she did know the names of all of the wildflowers , which I cull up from her . ”
You Have Been Professionally Active In Horticulture Since 1986. Looking Back, What Were Some Of The Most Memorable Moments From Your Career?
“ I used to have a small nursery stage business , so the first sentence I did an RHS show was probably the most memorable and career - change experience , ” he says .
“ It was quite restrain on that social occasion , but I get a lot of stake from people and it was definitely a major moment in my career . To be able to go to these shows was such a wonderful thing , but the RHS do n’t run them on a monthly basis anymore . ”
With Over 25 Books Written On Various Aspects Of Plants And Gardens, Which One Is Your Favourite And Why?
“ ‘ The New Perennial Garden ’ , which came out in 1996 , was a real discovery for me , ” Noel explain .
“ It was establish on some wonderful work I had come across in Holland and Germany , which was all about selecting works from a garden in a scientific manner from particular home ground .
“ That Word of God sold well and I think one of the secure features in it was these tables we had where we pack in as much information as we could , and people say to me that the knowledge there was really worthful .
Image by: Malgorzata Kiedrzynska
“ I most enjoyed doing a book called Garden Flora , which come in out about 6 year ago . It was a source of non - horticultural aspect of garden plants , which had to do with their history and finish .
“ Once I ’d crock up it with the instance from old catalog prints , that historical overview of how plant life get from the wild into our gardens was really engrossing . I ’m really majestic of that one . ”
You Have Also Launched Garden Masterclass Which Runs Day Workshops Throughout The British Isles. Can You Share Some Success Stories From These Workshops?
“ When the pandemic happen , myself and Annie Guilfoyle , whom I have a commercial enterprise with , decided to take our content online and upload videos to share with people .
“ During the first two months of lockdown , we did a program 5 days a week where we interview lots of gardeners and horticulturists on a donations - only basis and we instantly created this global horticulture community .
“ It was an aroused survival instrument for set of people during that time . Once lockdown was airlift , we dropped the bouncy broadcast down to once a week , and now we have expanded to do courses and webinars .
“ We ’re still attempt to spring up it and reckon to commission some films in the future tense . It ’s been a hugely exciting journey . ”
How do you stay updated with the evolving trends in planting design?
“ The key thing is to try and create planting that are sustainable and really benefit all-embracing biodiversity , ” he advises .
“ I conceive it ’s really significant that all plantings have wildlife in judgment , and we should be await at public spaces and commons with preservation at the forefront so there is no conflict between that and functionality .
“ The of the essence affair is to make planting combinations that are unchanging enough to become artificial ecosystem . Quite a few of us have been working on that for old age now .
“ We ’ve learnt a lot , but we still have a lot to learn . For me , it ’s very authoritative to get out and about and see what other people are doing . ”
What Is Your Favourite Thing About Your Job?
“ I think it is the work I do with Garden Masterclass . It ’s that chance to be part of and help produce a community . It is also an opportunity to journey . I love putting people in feeling with each other .
“ One of my best-loved things I did was mentor a woman in Argentina over electronic mail who go out and did everything I suggested and really began to build up a practice , using aboriginal plant life for the first time ever from where she was survive in Uruguay .
“ Somebody else popped up in Southern Brazil who wanted to do a interchangeable matter , and I managed to put them in contact , so they begin to fly out to each other to sour together .
“ It was wonderful to have passed that noesis on . It was a really special experience . ”
Are There Any Upcoming Publications Or Projects That You Are Particularly Excited About?
“ I ’m working on a planting purpose for a new garden in Regent ’s Park in London , ” explains Noel .
“ It is a one - hectare site which is still in the planting stage , but we are hope for an porta in 2026 . That ’s really exciting to be working on . ”
