Teddington 1

I have to confess being a sucker for gravel gardens. I blame the late John Brookes who introduced me to them in the 1990s when I was a student of his at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.

I love the way they change over time with nomadic, self-seeding plants bringing an element of chance to the various plant associations. I also enjoy the spaces between plants so they can express themselves more freely than when they are crammed into beds so tightly it’s hard to appreciate their form.

Gravel gardens are often sold as low-maintenance gardens but this only holds true if the garden is well-cared for from the start and creatively edited by someone with an eye for opportunities and the ability to identify seedlings.

‘Hoggin’ (unwashed gravel), peculiar to some parts of the Thames Valley has been a useful substrate over the years for gardens in my neighbourhood and several clients, having taken a leap of faith, continue to enjoy the forgiving and unpredictable nature of this exciting growing medium.