Page 157 - homes & gardens

h&g DEsIgn GARDENING

THIS PICTURE AND LEFT
Joanna’s vision for revitalising
the New Great Square at
Plymouth Civic Centre.

esra parr
hampton court winner
eing a little older and able to draw on all the
“Bcreative and people skills and the experience
of running my own businesses that I’ve gathered
since leaving school gives me credibility,” says newly
qualifed garden designer Esra Parr, 51 (above, left),
who won a Gold medal for her frst show garden,
Spirit of the Aegean (above), at this year’s RHS
has been deteriorating and become rather Hampton Court Flower Show. “I think that as most
unloved. I wanted to create a design that “ garden design clients are likely to be in their thirties
would revitalise the square in front of the I wanted or older, being a little older myself helps me to
centre, giving it a more garden-based feel to give the understand their needs more clearly.
that would lift the spirits of people who “I wasn’t sure garden design was what I wanted
pass through it every day. square a more to do as a long-term career, and if the initial cost
“Geoffrey Jellicoe, one of the greatest had been high then I probably wouldn’t have
landscape architects of the 20th century, garden-based embarked on the training, but I began by doing a
year in horticulture at Capel Manor, one day a week
created the existing square, so the most feel that would
words and interviews arabella ST joHn parker photograph rHS/neil HepWorTH (eSra parr’S GarDen)
diffcult challenge was to produce a design with lots of course work. I followed that with two
that would respect his legacy while making lif the spirits years of design then fnished with a year of practical
a space that is suitable for the 21st century. hard landscaping. Each course led me to the next.
There were many aspects to the project, of people who I discovered that I enjoyed it and was quite good
at it, while the courses gave me the confdence and
but the key points were to consider how pass through
people use the square, to understand how tools to set up my own garden design business.”
the geometry of the building and the square it every day.”
interact, and to develop a planting scheme
that would work within the limitations of
budget and the local climate.” THINKING ABOUT TRAINING AS
A GARDEN DESIGNER?
What does the future hold for you? “I’m A certifcate, diploma or degree in are used? Compare course credentials
working on a garden for a contemporary house garden design is increasingly desirable with your own preferences (an artistic
in a stunning coastal location. I love Cornwall and valuable and the list of colleges or horticultural bias, for instance), and
and fnd its climate and environment exciting offering such courses is extensive. Do the sort of accreditation you want.
and inspirational to work with. My intention is as the SGD advises and take time to An internet search for garden
to make gardens that have a sense of place, work out which course is right for you; design courses will include relatively
that are beautiful and atmospheric while still bear in mind your available study time, long-established colleges such as
being robust and sustainable. budget and fnal career expectations Writtle College, Capel Manor, Hadlow
“I’m also keen to try creating show gardens. as you assess each option. College, the KLC and the Inchbald
The Royal Horticultural Society accepted my Key points to consider are: what School of Design, the RHS, The English
application to make one at this year’s Malvern sort of design training does the course Gardening School and London College
Show, but I fell short of the funding I needed offer? How does it cover the business of Garden Design among the top 20.
to go ahead. It was disappointing but I learned of design? What sort of skills tuition is For more, visit sgd.org.uk/student_
a lot from the experience and hope to be at on offer, and what teaching methods green/Choose_Course.aspx.
Hampton Court or Chelsea very soon.” l

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