The garden journal
Seasonal advice, wildlife notes, and honest thoughts about what makes a garden work well over time.
I've been designing Yorkshire gardens since 1997, and this journal is where I write down what all those years keep teaching me. You'll find practical pieces on low-maintenance planting, wildlife-friendly ideas that don't invite chaos, and honest thoughts about what actually works in our northern soil and weather.
Nothing here needs you to be an expert. I write the way I talk with clients over a cup of tea: plain answers to real questions, like why the borders go quiet in August, or whether the moss in your lawn is really a problem worth fighting.
If something you read sparks a thought about your own garden, I'm always happy to talk it through. Let's start with a conversation.
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Think like a slug
Why slug pellets are a problem for hedgehogs, and two simple alternatives that actually work. Practical advice from a Yorkshire garden designer.
Read the full articleMore from the journal
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The Architectural Grace of Autumn Seed Heads
There's a moment in late September when the garden shifts. The flowers fade, but what remains is often more beautiful than what came before.
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Is your garden a burden?
How to tell if your garden has become more work than joy, and what to do about it. Honest advice from a Yorkshire garden designer.
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What does your garden look like from inside the house?
Most of us see our gardens through a window more often than we stand in them. Here's how to make that view worth looking at.
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Annual seed mixes: easy, beautiful, and almost no work
A simple, low-maintenance approach that fills gaps with colour and attracts pollinators. Annual seed mixes: the advantages and the honest downsides.
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Pots and containers for emergency colour
When the garden hits a green lull, containers can save the day. A quick, practical approach to filling colour gaps from a Yorkshire garden designer.
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Patios: less is more
Why excessive curves make a patio look fussy, and how to get it right. Practical design advice from a Yorkshire garden designer.
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