Tales from the Potting Shed
On 28th April ODGC welcomed Nicola Hope, a horticulturist, garden designer and writer.
Nicola began her gardening career as a teenager doing work experience at Highgrove in the ornamental garden where she discovered a talent for topiary. She worked at Highgrove intermittently while studying Fine Art at Cardiff and after attaining an HND in organic gardening at Pershore was offered the post of Head of Cottage Garden.
Nicola later moved to work at Lake House, owned by Sting, where under the aegis of the head gardener she learned a great deal about vegetable production and presentation. Lake House possesses Soil Association accreditation. From here she moved to Abbey House, a fifteenth century house with five acres of gardens with the emphasis on colour in spring summer and autumn. After a year she left to work at Cole Park, a private garden whose owner has an aversion to colour. Emphasis here is on symmetry, texture and the creation of vistas. Here Nicola learnt the value of structure, so important in winter. Symmetry and precision extended to the vegetable garden producing a calming atmosphere.
After four years Nicola went freelance and has been self employed for sixteen years. Hers was a steep learning curve, having been the beneficiary of extremely knowledgeable head gardeners she was now on her own. She had to solve problems herself and learn to delegate and now heads a team of gardeners. Somehow she found time to study for a Masters in horticulture and a professional diploma in garden design. She gardens organically and particularly enjoys growing heritage vegetables.
It was fascinating to hear how Nicola’s chronological experiences have informed and influenced her working life from the colour of Highgrove to the symmetry and structure of Cole Park. From these and an artistic eye her own style has evolved.
Ghislaine Arundale
