In 2020, garden designer Jelle Grintjes and his wife decided to move from a small terraced house in the centre of town to a larger property on the outskirts. Unusually, this also meant relocating a 1,400 square-metre perennial garden that Jelle had made nearby. He’d approached his local municipality in 2013 about renting some disused land in front of his house. “The idea was to make a garden for myself as an experiment, to try different combinations and see if it would work,” he says. The municipality agreed, but on one condition – he had to make the garden public.
That garden soon became an important showcase for his work. Visitor numbers grew quickly, with people coming from as far afield as Australia. “I thought, if people are coming from so far to see my garden, maybe I should make a bigger one to offer them more. I talked about it with my wife, and we decided to take this big step.” The move was a gamble. They weren’t sure if people would visit a new garden, and they faced the huge challenge of transplanting the perennials, grasses and bulbs from the previous space.
His new garden, originally the meadow of a nearby farm, sits on heavy clay, so Jelle’s first task was to add a 10cm layer of sand across the site. This helps control the weeds but has also opened up the soil and makes it easier for plants to self-seed.
Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
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Denne historien er fra August 2023-utgaven av Gardens Illustrated.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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.
