Emmanuel de Quillacq spent most of his childhood moving all over France. But after studying landscape design at the distinguished École du Paysage in Versailles, he felt a deep need to reconnect with his roots. So in 1990 he moved to his grandparents’ farm in French Flanders, a stone’s throw from the Belgian border, between Dunkirk and Lille.
The house was in a derelict state. There was rubble everywhere and the grounds were bare of any trees, apart from a lone walnut tree and a couple of willows. A long period of renovation and clearing started – the wheelbarrow years, Emmanuel likes to call them. He describes this process as a ‘natural system’. “You have to be patient,” he says, but the result is thoroughly at one with its environment.
Eventually Emmanuel was ready to work on his grand design. This would be a garden of chambres vertes or green rooms, each with a different theme, and linked with paths and corridors. The experience would be of contrasting light and dark areas – creating a sense of anticipation and excitement.
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Denne historien er fra April 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
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WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
Giving your free time to volunteer in the community or as a mentor can have a big impact, and also benefit you in ways you can't imagine, says John Wyer
EARTHLY CONCERN
Weeds, slugs, birds and mice - all are welcome on Birch Farm in Devon, where Joshua Sparkes seeks to respect the local ecosystem and mimic nature in his innovative approach to growing
Gardening is good for you
In the first of his new factual column on the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Claxton uncovers all the evidence-based ways it can help your physical health.
TANGERINE DREAM
On the edge of one of London's busiest roundabouts, Nigel Dunnett has created exciting combinations of drought-tolerant plants for a roof garden that is as unexpected as it is joyful
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Growing your own edible plants is a great way to boost your gut microbiome. Discover expert picks of edimentals that are both beautiful and beneficial
Waste not, nice plot
Designer Miria Harris gave herself the challenge of a no-skip, zero-waste project, giving away, recycling or reusing everything in this back garden before transforming it into a space her client could love
One for all
A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents and garden lovers alike
Meet our horticultural HEROES
Discover the stories of the extraordinary garden champions who are making a difference to places, people, plants and the planet
SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE
In the culinary world, chefs and food writers sometimes closely guard their recipes, says Nigel Slater. Among gardeners, however, there is a refreshing spirit of generosity
Autumn at Sissinghurst
As the garden slips into a new season, head gardener Troy Scott Smith and his team are busy with tasks from hedge cutting and lawn work to bulb planting and sowing seeds.
