Taking place on the 7th of July (6.30 pm) at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London, a panel of experienced garden designers; Joe Swift, Polly Wilkinson, James Alexander-Sinclair, and the gardener, broadcaster and writer, Rachel de Thame will provide ideas, inspiration, planting advice and guidance to help design the garden that suits you.
The Panel Discussion is hosted by Horatio’s Garden, UK charity that nurtures wellbeing of people after spinal injury in beautiful, vibrant sanctuaries in the heart of NHS spinal injury centres. The first Horatio’s Garden opened in 2012 and the charity’s mission is to grow thriving communities and biodiverse gardens in all 11 UK spinal injury centres. Funds raised will help support and create garden sanctuaries for the wellbeing of people with spinal injuries.
Rachel de Thame is a gardener, broadcaster and author, known for presenting BBC Gardeners’ World and BBC coverage of the shows, such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. As a journalist she writes a regular gardening column for The Sunday Times and Gardeners’ World Magazine. In October 2023, she released her book, A Flower Garden for Pollinators.
Joe Swift is a presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World and other gardening programmes as well as coverage of the major flower shows. He is a garden designer, broadcaster, writer and design director of Modular. He writes a weekly column for The Times and Radio Times Magazine and has written eight books. In 2012, Swift won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for his Homebase Teenage Cancer Trust Garden. He has also won other design awards, including Society of Garden Designers awards.
Polly Wilkinson, graduated from the English Gardening School and Merrist Wood College. Her design studio has holds 3 RHS medals from Chelsea Flower Show (Silver) and Hampton Court Flower Shows, (Silver-Gilt and Silver) and two coveted People’s choice awards from RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022, and RHS Hampton Court Flower show 2019. As well as designing gardens, Wilkinson is a visiting lecturer at the Yorkshire School of Garden Design, and gives various talks on design and related subjects.
James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden designer, writer and broadcaster. He is an RHS Vice-President and was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution to horticulture in 2022. He is the RHS Ambassador for Garden Design and a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers. Alexander-Sinclair has written for BBC Homes & Antiques, Country Living, Daily Express, Homes & Gardens, House & Garden, Period Living, and Sunday Express, and his own house and garden has been featured in many publications.
A drinks reception will be held at 6.30pm in the historic Map Room at the RGS, where attendees have the chance to meet the panel before the discussion begins at 7.30pm. Further details and registration can be found here.
