James Hitchmough’s New Garden

James Hitchmough: ‘Since my early teens, I have made six gardens for myself and my family. The first was foisted onto my long-suffering parents who raised the white flag and let me get on with it. Now for the first time since that garden I have the luxury of time and the largest space thus far to play with. The new garden is part done; the field, with its wildflower meadows, and many closely planted “orchard like” trees (I prefer “coppice woodpasture”) is now in place if of course rather raw. As I write the garden around the house has most of its new bones in place, the contractors are soon to depart, but with no planting other than the trees and shrubs that have lived there for at least 70 years.

Despite no longer being in gainful employment, I cannot step out of the shoes of educator-flier of kites, that I have occupied for the past 40 years. As ever I wanted to make something that was in some way new or at least experimental that might be of interest to others. To boost biodiversity, to respond positively and creatively to climate change, plant lots of different trees (lignin therapy), in the right places; and beneath these, restore an area of meadowland to what it might once have been or better. Perhaps a stepping stone to encourage others to follow suit? I also wanted to have some fun, to choreograph great seasonal drama on the stage that is the garden, my home version of the “wow factor” that has been the hallmark of my life’s work. To do this you need numbers for each moment in time. A single Dodecatheon or Begonia grandis is a fine thing but when you lay 500 of each across a garden landscape a different world is brought into being. It's rather early days but I do hope some of my plans may be of interest to you.'

Speaker bio:

James completed a BSC (Hons.) in Environmental Horticulture in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bath in 1979, and a PhD in Database Design for Plant Selection in 1984. He worked as a Lecturer/Senior Lecture at Burnley College, University of Melbourne, Australia from 1983-93. James commenced as Reader in the Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield in 1995, was appointed Professor in Horticultural Ecology in 2004, and Head of Department from 2014-18. He retired in September 2022. In parallel with his academic career, James has always worked as a consultant on landscape projects around the world, often using these to translate his research into practice and policy. He was one of the two lead planting designers on the London Olympic Park from 2007-14, following the publication of “The Dynamic Landscape” a seminal text on the application of nature-like planting to the urban realm. Since 2010 he has focused on projects in China, often in collaboration with Chinese Government agencies to advance the use of local native species in large scale nature-like design projects, involving more than 50 visits and expeditions. Post his retirement (not really a retirement at all) James continues to work on design projects, currently in the UK, China, Australia, Spain and Oman whilst at the same time undertaking the creation of a new garden, meadows and wood pasture at the family home in rural South Somerset. He continues to be in demand as a speaker around the world.

Other information: Guests will also have the opportunity to visit the Orchard Plant Library and Barn Garden from 5:00-6:00pm (this usually costs £30 if booked separately).