The Planting Team

Our planting team are nearing completion of the Breathing Space garden ahead of assessment and judging over the weekend … and what a team!

Working with great specialists has been a theme running through this whole project, and the planting is no different.

We are honoured to have Midori Shintani and Shintaro Sasagawa, the immensely respected Japanese gardeners who for 17 years worked as head gardeners at the millennium forest project in Hokkaido, tending the vision of Dan Pearson and Japanese media entrepreneur Mitsushige Hayashi.

Wishing to bring real craft and an integrity to the planting we managed to get in touch, and to our delight they said ‘yes’. They are currently instrumental in creating subtle planting combinations that beautifully support the design ethos of Yohaki no bi (the beauty of empty space).

We are beyond grateful!

That said - our planting team has real breadth and depth. The much renowned Chris Marchant (formerly of Orchard Dene) has been a planting mentor throughout my career. She has been instrumental in brainstorming the planting palette with us over the last few months, plus helping layout and planting on site - much more than she had planned!

Thank you Chris.

But that’s not all. Guided expertly and calmly by Oxford-based Laura Burt and Chloe Wood - our group of volunteers including the heroic Sharen and Sara plus others who stepped in from the Inchbald School of Design, Dan Pearson Studio, Capel Manor and London School of Design - have been preparing the plants, shifting trolleys, sourcing last minute replacements, wrapping irises, pruning Acers etc etc in weather that has ranged from fair to foul.  Laura, Chloe and their volunteer team have been the invaluable engine room that is making the project come to fruition.

Thank you to everyone - nearly there!

@lillajapan (Midori Shintani) 
@shintaro_sasagawa
@chloewoodgardendesign
@lauraburt16