Very few of us with a passion for gardens would not recognise Diarmuid Gavin’s name. The gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show and the face of Surprise Gardeners and Gardeners’ World being amongst his many credits, Diarmuid has recently turned his expertise to creating the perfect communal garden for the Park SW20 development.
We met with Diarmuid on the site of this stunning development and had a great opportunity to ask him a few questions and get to know the person behind some of the UK’s greatest garden masterpieces.
What did you want to become when you were a child?
Diarmuid: When I was a child I loved the idea of doing something creative- building or making things. I went through periods of wanting to be a carpenter and even a potter. I did pottery classes for seven years and enjoyed every minute of it. But once I hit on the notion of making gardens....I was hooked!
What inspired you to become a garden designer?
Diarmuid: There was an older gardener called Percy Thrower on the BBC's Blue Peter. He helped the team create a sunken Italianate pool garden, complete with stone terraces and plants in pots and urns. I was mesmerised by this changing of space, this use of ideas, design, materials and planting to transform a piece of land into something beautiful.
What has been your proudest moment as a gardener?
"A desolate city centre sub-ground wasteland was transformed into a safe magical escape."
Diarmuid: A few years back I joined a team of gardeners to create a tiny courtyard garden at a children's hospital. What had been a desolate city centre sub-ground wasteland was transformed into a safe magical escape for little ones who were undergoing some tough times.
We had hanging baskets in the shape of planets which could be winched up and down, train sets choo-chooing through the space and hidden sand pits waiting to be discovered by inquisitive minds. Being part of that garden team was quite overwhelming.
What’s next on the cards for your career?
Diarmuid: I'm creating a contemporary garden for the National Trust at its Gibside estate in Newcastle, working with Harrods on a series of gardens around the world and have an exciting secret project on the go with some museums in London. I also have a new garden design book coming out in the autumn.
What is the most extravagant garden you’ve ever designed?
"Its focus was a two metre high egg shaped glitter-ball that rotated."
Diarmuid: Once, for a TV show I designed a garden which was the epitome of luxury and elegance. Planned for an Art Deco-style house it was reminiscent of the glamorous days of 1930's Hollywood.
Inspired by Busby Berkley dance routines it had stepped lawns edged in brass, mosaic pools, and its focus was a 2 meter high egg shaped glitter-ball which rotated. Inside the egg was a cocktail cabinet!
If you weren’t a garden designer, you would be…
Diarmuid: I think I'd try being a chef. I love the artistic nature of that profession, the creativity with colour, taste, sculpture and team work. I've worked with Heston Blumenthal on an idea for a chocolate factory garden in the past, and it's his type of magic which I'd love to create in the kitchen.
Over the next five weeks, Diarmuid will be sharing his expert gardening tips with us - make sure to follow the news on our Facebook page or keep up to date with our Discover page!
And if you fancy the opportunity to enjoy Diarmuid's garden on a daily basis, take a look at Park SW20 development on our books.
