For this special expert interview, we had the pleasure of chatting with Charlotte Hugh and Clayre Wilkes, two avid home gardeners who've shared their experiences, challenges, and highlights that come from creating their dream outdoor space.

Read on to discover how they approached their garden projects and what tips they have for fellow gardening lovers!

Meet the Gardeners

Introducing…

Charlotte Hugh, a Hertfordshire based gardener, began creating her dream garden back in 2020 and has spent the last 5 years transforming her space into the cottage garden of her dreams, falling in love with gardening in the process.

And, Clayre Wilkes a long time hobby gardener from rural Herefordshire. When her family moved home in Autumn 2019 Clayre was determined to create a beautiful garden from the blank canvas in front of her - from which she started sharing her progress through Instagram which evolved into a garden community where ideas and knowledge can be shared all year round.

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and what got yourself interested in gardening?

Charlotte Hugh: My husband and I bought our little new-build end of the terrace home in June 2020, so we moved in after the first covid lockdown. So, like many others, the garden was the only outdoor space we had to enjoy.

And with so much sudden free-time on our hands, we set ourselves the task of transforming it - giving us purpose during quite an uncertain time in everyone’s lives. I found so much hope in the garden and it soon became not just something to do, but something I wanted to do. 

Clayre Wilkes: I caught the garden bug in my early twenties when I moved into my first little home. The garden was tiny but I enjoyed making it look pretty.

The real learning came when my husband and I purchased an old farmhand cottage with a large garden. It was then I really started to teach myself about plants and the proper care they needed. By my thirties I started visiting gardening shows and never missed an episode of Gardeners World. Growing up in rural Herefordshire gave me a love of nature and I’ve always tried to encourage this in my gardens.

What’s your favourite part of gardening?

Charlotte Hugh: Definitely reaping the rewards of what you sow, whether that’s picking a fresh bunch of cut flowers straight from the garden, or harvesting a big basket of veggies from the kitchen garden. It’s so rewarding knowing you’ve grown your own food, or filled your house with home-grown blooms.

But I also love seeing the change in the garden, day by day, week by week, year on year. 

Clayre Wilkes: I love how creative it is and how being outside in nature helps me switch off. There’s always something new to learn, even after 28 years of loving gardening and that first spark of growth from a tiny seed never gets old.

What's one unexpected lesson you've learned from gardening in the last few years?

Charlotte Hugh: I think it’s really taught me to slow down. I have quite a busy job, one where I’m constantly on the go. But it’s impossible to rush the garden, which is great for me as it’s really helped me to slow down and take every inch of it in. 

And it’s also taught me that most problems can be solved by putting your hands in the soil and feeling the sun on your face. I promise, it’s such a healer. 

Clayre Wilkes: Being diagnosed with Stage 2 Melanoma in late 2017 was a big set back for me. I did start to think my gardening days may be over and it did take some time and one house move to learn to move past it.

Thankfully now some excellent sun cream, a good hat and moving summer gardening to the evenings has let me continue my love of gardening.

What's your favourite Agriframes product and how would you advise to use it?

Charlotte Hugh:  I love the Elegance Round Garden Arch. I've always felt like a garden arch is the epitome of the cottage garden vibe, and as I'm on a journey to transform my new-build garden into the cottage garden of my dreams, this arch really does bring all the cottage core vibes. Ours is over our gravel path, with climbing roses either side. A perfect way to give any new garden character. 

Clayre Wilkes: I’ve had my eye of the Gothic Arch for a while which I want to climb some clematis and evergreen Jasmine over. They are such a wonderful way of dividing up areas and adding height.

Are there any gardening books, websites, or podcasts that you find particularly helpful?

Charlotte Hugh: Gardeners’ World, the show & the magazine is my go-to for seasonal gardening advice and inspiration.

But I use social media to get a lot of my tips. I find people like ‘Joes Garden’, Sophie from ‘Look inside my garden’, Aoife from ‘Aoife’s allotment’ and many many more - I find social media can give you more digestible, relatable content and most creators are super friendly and will answer any questions you have too. 

Clayre Wilkes: Visiting other peoples gardens is always a great way to gain inspiration. I particularly like using the NGS open garden scheme where you pay a small donation to charity to look around real everyday gardens. For plant information the RHS website and their wonderful plant data is my go to to check on growing conditions, hardness ratings and so much more.

Clayre Wilkes - Planning Your Bee and Butterfly Garden:

Are there any specific colours or lower shapes that you find particularly appealing for attracting pollinators?

If you want to help out and attract pollinators it’s best to choose open single daisy style or tubular bell shapes  - flowers that make accessing pollen and nectar easier. Also remember to include things that are both early and late in the year to give feeding sources on milder winter days. I was told once that a bee's favourite colour is purple but they seem happy with a host of colours in my garden. 

How will you manage potential pests without harming pollinators? (Considering organic and integrated pest management strategies.):

The great thing with nature is that there is usually a predator for most pests. Ladybirds will eat up those annoying aphids, songbirds will tackle the snails and hedgehogs and frogs will munch the slugs.

Fungus inflections like mildew, rust and blackspot are a bit more tricky and when you garden with wildlife in mind you have to accept a few imperfections but keeping plants healthy with natural feeds such as liquid seaweed or fish, bone and blood helps as does making sure there good ventilation between plants.

What are some of your favourite bee-attracting plants that have thrived for you in the past?

For early in the year I love Hellebores, winter flowering honeysuckle and crocus. Crab Apples and other blossom trees along with Spring flowering shrubs are wonderful until the summer superstars of Alliums, Echinacea, Verbena Bonarensis, Scabious, Cosmos, lavender and foxgloves come along. Asters and Sedums are favourites for heading into Autumn.