The garden designer Lucy Willcox will be joining the Crocus Team as their Resident Garden Designer. Alongside, the newly appointed Crocus Head Gardener, Ashley Edwards, Willcox will be working on the reimagining and re-design of Dorney Court – the Crocus walled garden destination, cafe & shop.
Alongside this role, both Edwards and Willcox will be providing design and gardening advice and inspiration, delivered across Crocus channels, as well as informing the company’s growing range of design-led border collections, container collections and plant combinations.
Lucy Willcox
Lucy Willcox specialises in contemporary garden design and is one of the new gardeners featured the new ITV show ‘Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club’ – presenting mini masterclasses in garden design principles. She started her career in film and photography, working as an Assistant Film Editor and Film Producer on commercials for known brands. Retrained, Willcox obtained her Diploma in Garden Design from the Inchbald School of Design and in 2007, she founded Lucy Willcox Garden Design. In 2020, she was awarded the Principal BALI award, and many of her gardens have been shortlisted for the Society of Garden + Landscape Designers Awards.
“What a privilege to be part of the Crocus team. I’m really looking forward to supporting Crocus customers and followers on their gardening journeys by simplifying the complicated world of gardening; from planting design to one stop shop pot schemes. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, I am so thrilled to be working alongside my good friend, Ashley Edwards. It’s a dream come true. Ashley and I are working on a project with the Crocus team to create an inspiring garden destination featuring planting schemes and design concepts that will allow Crocus followers and customers to easily apply them in their own homes. Our goal is to make gardening truly accessible for all,” said Willcox.
Ashley Edwards
Ashley Edwards joins Crocus as the new Head Gardener. Edwards trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and his career focus has been connecting people with plants. He has featured on TV, radio and magazines as well as practising horticultural therapy in his previous Head Gardener role at National Charity, Horatio’s Garden.
Edwards is dedicated to bringing his expertise and creativity to Dorney Court to showcase horticultural excellence, inspire visitors and invite a deeper appreciation with nature.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to join the Crocus team as Head Gardener. My passion is spreading the joy of gardening with a focus on the wellbeing that natures connection brings. Crocus has a reputation for bringing new and exciting plants to the forefront and using them in inspiring ways. It’s this innovative environment that I’m so pleased to be a part of: showcasing the best of horticultural design, demystifying gardening practices, and empowering people to have a go at home,” explained Edwards.
Leah Lane
Crocus has also announced a collaboration with Leah Lane of Mulberry House. With an extensive following, Lane is known for converting her countryside home into a warm and inviting space filled with personal charm and history. In collaboration with Crocus, Lane will be featured in a series of garden projects, where through trial and error, they aim to show that you don’t have to be a horticultural expert to create a garden. The series is to start with a long desired, kitchen garden project.
The online gardening brand, Crocus was established in April 2000, and has since grown into one of the biggest gardening websites, offering a substantial range of plants and garden(ing) paraphernalia. For 21 years, the company has built and grown plants for RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gardens and won an impressive 30 gold medals. 2024 was to be their last RHS Chelsea build – leaving on a high with two gold medals and the coveted Best in Show.
