Saga Insurance 2006

The Saga Insurance Garden, a contemporary apothecary that celebrated herbs from around the world, was also the first of three opportunities to work with sculptors Agnes and Serge Bottagisio-Decoux.

Their work resonated with the modernist nature of the garden offering the perfect foil for an exciting range of drought tolerant plants from Jekka McVicar’s herb farm.

The generous scale of the sculpture and trees tested my resolve to make big statements in a relatively small space and, happily, the garden was duly awarded a RHS gold medal.

Birds nesting in the field maples to the rear of the garden prevented us from moving the trees from the showground at the Royal Hospital but eventually the garden was relocated to Saga’s HQ at Enbrook Park, Folkstone.