AN EYE for design

Mark, you were awarded Landscape Designer of the Year 2020 so congratulations on that. Is the award presented for a one-off design or a culmination of great designing?

It is based on my overall work, my ethics and understanding of garden design practices, my innovative approach to materials and plants and my belief in producing sustainable, environmental and healthy gardens.

Where did your passion for gardening start?

I used to follow my paternal grandfather around his vegetable garden. He taught me about sowing seeds, growing on, tying in climbers, etc. and my grandmother was a floral arranger so she taught me about the use of colours, texture and shape. My maternal grandparents had a rose garden and my love-hate relationship for roses grew from there. I have always been arty and loved to draw and as a child used to paint landscapes, flowers and wildlife. When I became an editor and publisher in London I worked with many leading