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menage - An interview with graphic designer Paul Stone
An interview with Paul Stone
We caught up with Paul Stone, designer of the headline ‘A Garden Fit for a King’ Show Garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2023 and The Theatre of Greens at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair 2023.
Paul Stone is an award-winning garden designer based in Cornwall where he helped create the acclaimed Eden Project gardens. Paul has won awards at Chelsea and Hampton Court, and three Platinum Awards and Best in Show at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, including for The Nostalgia Garden, which celebrated BBC Gardeners’ World’s 50thAnniversary in 2017.
Paul has designed the newspaper headline Show Garden for BBC Gardeners ’ World Live 2023,A Garden Fit for a King , which set the Coronation of HM The King Charles III . The Show Garden is inspired by the gardens and Arboretum at Highgrove in Gloucestershire , and celebrates His Majesty ’s passion for gardening and the environment .
Paul Stone’sA Garden Fit for a Kingwill be at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live at the Birmingham NEC from 15th-18thJune 2023 . Paul is also design the Theatre of Greens at the BBC Gardeners ’ World Spring Fair 2023 .
The Interview
At 15 m x 15 m , A Garden Fit for a King will large than most Chelsea Main Avenue Show Gardens . However , this Show Garden ’s ethos seeks to be all about plant and masses living but and harmoniously , side by side . As a issue of this theme , the content is deliberately simplistic and designed to leave a down carbon footprint in its introduction at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live 2023 . The display is inspired by Highgrove ’s gardening ambition and projects but does not set out to replicate any feature in the gardens there . Instead , I have mixed Highgrove elements into one scene that tells the story of an feeler to gardening and living that is all about investment in the environs , the love of works , and the resulting benefits to us all at so many stage .
I ’ve encounter the then Prince Charles on a number of social function and his dedication and sexual love of gardening is without interrogation . I mat the bad tribute I could give in solemnization of his investiture would be to concentrate and credit his specific contribution to his renovation of the Highgrove Gardens and the resulting wallop on the horticulture community . Back in 1980 , the then Prince Charles vocalise and demonstrated his Passion of Christ for natural scientist and environmentally - friendly horticulture . Also , for using the land to the benefit of people , wildlife and plants at a metre when sustainability was not on the agenda for most agricultural and horticultural projects and activities . He received a lot of criticism from many quarters with vested interest group in body politic direction . There was also an attempt to ridicule his open sideline that it was all rotund a ripe thing to babble to flowers , to hug and throw off hands with a tree , and whisper good luck to a tree diagram when you planted it . Any true nurseryman will recognize this connection with people and plants . story has shown that by stand up and speaking honestly about such things , HRH The King has made a brave and big donation to education and public perception of how an individual has obligation to themselves and the Earth around them .
The standout feature article ofA Garden Fit for a Kingwill be that everything in it has a link aim and design . habitat for Dominicus and shadowiness , dry and damp , trees and wildflowers , all combining for a stage setting that is adept for the psyche but also for the last thing that put up and are supported within . I have heard HRH The King say that a very significant matter about Highgrove , about what he does there and what I believe him to be advocate to us all – is to trust in Nature . It ’s crucial to me thatA Garden Fit for a Kingdelivers this message .
The Woodland ecosystem is another of the King ’s passion . A Garden Fit for a Kinggives a nod to that with a stove of classic aboriginal woodland Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree on display including Cherry and Beech but is also inspire by the Highgrove Arboretum collection . It is a feature article of the Highgrove Garden planting style that there is attention to detail with added value for ornamental interest and effect . At Highgrove , the Arboretum contains many non - native species and in our display , Magnolia and Japanese Maple are typical of what you will see at Highgrove , mix into the planting matrix . My imagination of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is from Hillier specialist tree nursery and I assure some fine specimen will be on display in this garden !
The award winning wildflower meadow at Highgrove commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth ’s 60thanniversary are recognised in our presentation . They are of course of action a fundamental element of sustainable , environmentally - friendly gardening . A Garden Fit for A Kingwill have a carpet of annual and repeated wild flower and grasses in profusion . Beneath the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in dry shady areas , Campanula , Digitalis , Geranium and Lamium are included . In open sunny spots , Achillea , Knautia , and Hawkweed will be amongst the perennials . Most of these plant will number from British Wildflower Plants Ltd of Norfolk . The yearbook Cornflower , Echium , Corn Marigold , Ox eye Daisy will be amongst many old favourite on display . The yearly are being grown in 500 trays and will be deliver to the NEC by specialist nursery Kernock Plants Ltd in Cornwall and drive home by articulated camion one workweek before the show opens on 15thJune . It ’s all about pollination , bee , insects and regeneration of the demesne . ask no chemical , fertilizer or insecticides , the land is enriched with its own cycle and enhance by sympathetic maintenance that mostly involve cutting down vegetation once or twice a yr and hit the arisings to keep low soil prolificacy . Around the boggy Reed bed Withy , more specialist wildflowers like Hemp Agrimony and the reed Phragmites will appear in the function of sewerage water filtration intervention , turn ammonia to nitrate just like at Highgrove . Centrally there is a wind grass lawn pathway and open space but this will also include species of wildflower that do n’t mind being mow on a regular basis like vetch , Achillea millefolium and Daisy .
Made in Birmingham Garden designed by Paul Stone at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live 2018
Just as in gardening , HRH The King has had his well - bare eyeshot on computer architecture under scrutiny in the yesteryear . His spiritual crusade against huge blank impersonal buildings – “ monstrous carbuncles”- has been another part of his donation to public sensing . InA Garden Fit for a King , I have included a simple traditional Bothy construction within the landscape painting . This lovely garden feature article is greatly barrack by the manufacturers ’ website which states : “ couturier and builders of special infinite for special place . A harmonious spinal fusion between landscape painting and computer architecture drive our antecedent heritage vogue , whilst being super kind to the environs . ” The Bothy is made all from rude I. F. Stone and timber . Visitors will be able-bodied to go inside and see its full - furnished bedroom , kitchen and lounge . This garden building is unparalleled in that it is usable to the public in pre - built outfit manikin . It will be delivered to the show ready - made and craned into place ! No on - site building , no wastefulness and everything bump off back to the showroom at the oddment of BBC Gardeners ’ World Live . We desire it meets with HRH ’s approving !
The Archers inspired floral feature by Paul Stone at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live 2022
Alongside my specialist team , I am hoping that I will meet up again with some one-time friends and collaborators who have assisted me in the past and attain slap-up work and gamey award Show Gardens . Wildflower expert Paul Pulford from the charity Providence Road Homeless Association will be in charge of that part of the project . Paul has worked with me at two Chelsea Flower Shows and in 2016 at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live when we found a hayfield in front of a narrow boat canal shot . He and I were both involve in the world of the roof garden on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank London where today he go forward to serve other excluded people get benefit from garden and gardening with his London - based undercoat Ecotherapy horticulture squad . Also Liz Brace from Knowle who has assisted me on two gardens with aid from her peak from the Farm connections . I am also hoping that the Solihull Mind horticulture team that sour on my 2018 Show Garden at BBC Gardeners ’ World Live will connect the planting squad this time round . BBC Gardeners ’ World Live is special at enable me to give opportunity to individuals who really get inspiration and personal eudaemonia from bring to the creation of such a project .
Just as I obtain car sustainment unfathomable , I apprise that horticulture is a big challenge in its complexness . I am look to root on just by using beautiful plants in swell combination . I desire citizenry to challenge what a ‘ skunk ’ actually is and consider that any industrial plant large or small can be an important contributor to an ecosystem . I would care citizenry to experiment with wildflowers which are soft to establish and then learn how to hold long condition which is foxy . My suppliers , British Wild Flower Plants , Kernock Plants , Pictorial Meadows Ltd and Hillier Nurseries will be capable to help on that . I would care masses to consider that arrant cut Gunter Grass lawn are not a great idea in these exchange time and that there is an opportunity to contribute to the environment in most outside spaces – with a bottom line slogan and belief – to trust in Nature – and invest in it . Some favorable multitude may wish to own the beautiful Bothy and the provider , Bonnie Boltholes Ltd , would be beguiled to help with that . Seeing plants working to a cleared design like the reed seam filtration system may also enliven some and we will have a composting organization on display . I hope that the combination of all the aspect and contents of the Show Garden will promote the idea of gardening without unreal , manmade products and will promote organic , sustainable research and praxis .
Make sure to see Paul Stone’s headline ‘A Garden Fit for a King’ at BBC Gardeners’ World Live, from 15-18 June at the NEC, Birmingham, and his ‘Theatre of Greens’ at BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair from 28-30 April at Beaulieu, Hampshire.
Find out more about Paul Stone here .
New year , raw garden , unexampled trends !
We ’re through the garden gate into 2023 , with a host of horticulture trend blooming throughout the country . Fromhouse plantsreaching dizzying heights of popularity , to the colour of the year ‘ Viva Magenta’,read on for our full list of trends .
To get up close and personal with fresh garden stirring , new plant , the latest gardening kit and more , join us in 2023 .
Colour of the Year 2023
Hand - pick by Pantone , the color of the class has been named as ‘ Viva Magenta .
Pantone key out the colour as‘brave and fearless , and a beat colouration whose exuberance promotes a joyous and affirmative festivity , writing a new narrative . ’
Discover a human race of colour and fragrance in the stunningFloral Marquee , bursting with award - gain ground nursery and display .
Sustainable gardening
Whilst your garden might seem to already be very green , it can always be greener !
Discover fashion you’re able to make horticulture more sustainable , like upcycling coarse point to make fashionable feature . What was a pallet , hessian bag , bits of pipe , and tin toilet , could become a plantation owner , grow bags , piddle features , and wildlife habitat .
Be inspired by the BBC Gardeners ’ World Magazine editorial squad as they ’re link by experts to give confidential information and advice .
Grow your own food
Looking to go from territory to supper this twelvemonth ? Get brilliant advice from the National Allotment Society at the event .
Peat-free gardening
Learn about the latest peat - free compost from exhibitors who can propose typeface - to - face advice .
Indoor gardening
Foliage does n’t just belong outside – bring nature indoors and be inspired by the Houseplant Hub .
Mindful gardening
Beautiful Borders returns with this year ’s theme ‘ My Garden Escape ’ to give you space savvy ideas .
Gardening on a budget
find out different ways you could let your garden bloom under a tight budget , with advice from expert gardeners .
Fermented foods
Visit the BBC Good Food Summer Show ( with gratuitous entry with your slate ! ) and discover the latest gastronome trends .
Feeling inspired ? Find out what else is happening at BBC Gardeners ’ World populate this June !
