IN CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD MIERS

Richard Miers has been designing gardens for over 23 years, both in the UK and abroad.

Despite being rooted in this time-honoured tradition, his gardens are clean and classically contemporary in style, with a strong sense of geometry. If there is a theme that runs through Richard's work it is the curved hedging that winds its way though his herbaceous borders or stands out in sensuous baroque curves against lawn or gravel.

Symmetry is also important, coupled with a sense of balance and proportion, resulting in gardens that are both harmonious and handsome.

We spoke with Richard to talk inspiration, advice for future garden designers and why people have turned to gardening over the past 18 months.

Let’s start from the beginning, did you grow up with a gardening family?

Somewhat. My Mother was interested in the hands-on detail of gardening, my Father was more concerned with the aesthetics. We moved around a lot when I was young which meant there were always new gardens to get to know and play in. I was also lucky in that there was a gardening club at the school I attended which enabled me to learn basic skills which have proved invaluable over the years.  One of the earliest influences on me was the Headmaster’s wife, who was a keen gardener herself and encouraged me in that direction.

What led you to becoming a garden designer?

A host of aspects of what it means to be a garden designer was appealing to me, chief amongst these was the ability to channel and find an outlet for my creative energy and work outdoors.

What would your advice be to someone looking to get into garden design?

Having a deep knowledge of and an ongoing curiosity for plants is key – I believe this is such a fundamental part of the designer’s toolkit.

In addition to that, I would advise would-be designers to find the best course that you can afford and if you can, get some hands-on landscaping / designing experience. Volunteering is great a way to achieve that and give something back.

So many people have turned to gardening during the last 18 months – why do you think gardening has had such a profound impact on people’s mental health?

The very nature of gardening is to nurture things and watch something grow – few of us could fail to derive something positive from that. Gardening puts us in touch with all our senses and helps us to reconnect with the world around us. 

As well as providing physical benefits, I find that spending time thinking about and doing something which completely absorbs me is incredibly calming and creates a sense of mindfulness.

Have clients’ requests changed during this period? Have you seen a surge in designing outdoor entertainment areas? Quiet reading corners? Family-friendly veg patches?

I think that people have come to realise the value of any outdoor space and are looking to find all sorts of ways to use that space to its full potential. Requests for designs which allow people to harmonise their inside and the outside space are becoming far more common. Outdoor kitchen spaces would be one such example. These have to be functional but remain beautiful and seamlessly blend in with the overall landscaping, look and feel of the garden  - this is what we strive to achieve.

Have you own tastes evolved during your career?

I think it’s vital to retain an open mind but also retain a distinctive style.  I have been described as Classical contemporary and sometimes I feel like stretching to contemporary and then I swing back to more classical!

Quick fire round:

Informal/formal gardens.

Timelessly elegant, whether that is in an informal or formal setting

City or country?

I live in London but I hanker for the country when time allows.

First starter plant?

Nasturtiums. Beautiful, super easy to grow and you can eat them!

Wild or pedicured?

Wild where appropriate and pedicured nearer the house

Top three gardens to visit in the world:

·        Houghton Hall, Norfolk with its stunning parkland, world class sculpture exhibitions and enormous and beautifully reimagined walled garden.

·        Rousham House, Oxfordshire William Kent designed masterpiece is a must visit for anyone interested in garden design and garden history.

·        I was blown away by Babylonstoren,  Stellenbosch, South Africa and the same owners have taken Hadspen House and built on generations of horticultural expertise and created the luxury hotel The Newt in Somerset.