Interview Camellia Taylor

About You

Tell us a little bit about yourself, and how your gardening journey began? 

I’m a garden designer and currently studying landscape architecture, with an academic background in psychology. When I think about my early memories, they almost always involve being outdoors. I’ve always felt a deep connection to nature, and that love for the outdoors has been a constant thread throughout my life.

Professionally, I began in the field of psychology and was very aware of the positive impact that being outside can have on mental health and wellbeing. After having children, I moved away from psychology and found myself drawn to garden design, it felt like a natural fit. It allowed me to be creative, to work closely with people and to help connect them to their outside spaces in meaningful ways.

The more I’ve worked in this space, the more deeply I’ve become interested in the broader role of landscape in our lives. That’s what led me into studying landscape architecture, where my focus now includes not just private gardens, but larger-scale work looking at how communities relate to their environment and how landscape can support connection, resilience and a sense of belonging.

How do you think your psychology degree has impacted your gardening?

It’s had a huge impact. Psychology taught me to observe, to listen and to think carefully about how people interact with space: what relaxes them, what uplifts them, how they want to use their outdoor space day to day. It’s shaped the way I design: I aim to create gardens that are not only visually engaging, but also functional and emotionally supportive,  places that respond to people’s lives, needs and routines.

I continue to explore this connection through both research and practice. I’ve completed an eco-sensory design course, which helped me bring together the scientific understanding with what I’ve always instinctively felt, that nature and wellbeing are deeply linked. Garden design, for me, is ultimately about people: listening to them, understanding their relationship with the outdoors and creating spaces that bring joy and purpose.

I’ve been lucky to work on a variety of projects including schools, charities and community spaces and I’ve just started running workshops alongside a mental health coordinator. These experiences continue to deepen my belief in the power of gardens to support wellbeing, connection and belonging.

What’s your favourite part of gardening?

It’s the act of switching off and focusing entirely on something tangible and forward looking. There’s something incredibly grounding about being absorbed in a task, whether it’s planting, pruning or simply observing what’s growing. I love the sense of quiet optimism that comes with gardening, the idea that you’re investing in the future, however small the act. It’s in those incremental changes: the first shoot, a bud forming, the shift in scent or texture that I find the most joy. Gardening invites you to slow down, to notice and to reconnect.

What’s your favourite part of gardening in the summer?   

Summer is when everything starts to really show itself the garden fills out, the colours deepen, and there’s a real sense of energy and movement.

I’ve planted a new area in my own garden that I’m especially excited about this year. It’s centered around grasses and herbaceous plants and I’ve experimented with block planting to create bold, textured layers. Everything went in last autumn, so this summer will be the first time I see how the design really unfolds. I love taking risks in my garden and trying new combinations, seeing what works (and what doesn’t). 

About Your Garden

Tell us about your personal gardening style?

I gravitate toward a naturalistic style . I love soft edges, layers of texture, and planting that shifts throughout the year. I love combining structured forms with looser, more spontaneous planting to create a sense of rhythm and calm.

Do you have any favourite projects you have worked on?

I’ve been lucky to work on a range of really special projects, each meaningful in different ways. One standout was The Natural Affinity Garden for  Aspens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it was such an honour to be part of something at that level and to see how a space can tell a powerful story and connect with so many people.

I also designed a wildlife pond for a school, which was a wonderful experience , helping children connect with nature and creating a space for learning, exploration and fun. My residential clients are a joy to work with too. I’ve had the privilege of working with some really thoughtful, engaged people who want to create gardens that will work seamlessly with the house but also serve a functional purpose that they can enjoy with their family and friends. 

What I particularly love, though, are projects that involve community collaboration, whether it’s working with local groups, charities, or young people. There’s something incredibly rewarding about co-creating a space with the people who will use it. These projects are often slower and more complex, but they carry such richness. They’re not just about planting and layout, but about listening, learning and making something together that feels anchored and meaningful.

Can you tell us a little bit about your next steps and exciting new plans?

I’m really excited about what’s ahead. I’ll be continuing my work in residential garden design, which I love, but I’m also becoming increasingly drawn to more community-focused projects the kind of work that involves collaboration, engagement, and creating spaces that serve a wider social purpose.

As I near the end of my master’s in landscape architecture, I’m keen to explore how design can support wellbeing, inclusion and regeneration on a broader scale in my work going forward. I’m especially interested in working with schools, charities and local organisations to create outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and purposeful.

More collaborations are definitely on the horizon. I really value working alongside others who bring different skills and perspectives. Whether that’s with other designers, community groups or artists, it’s in those shared processes that some of the most meaningful and creative work happens.

What advice would you give to a gardener starting out?

Start small and be curious. Begin, and don’t be afraid to get it wrong, gardening is all about learning as you go. Try growing one or two things that sparks your interest and notice what’s happening around you: what thrives in your local area, how the light changes, how the soil feels. Every season teaches you something new.

From a design perspective, I’d also say: draw inspiration from the world around you. There are incredible artists and designers pushing boundaries and rethinking materials in such exciting ways. Let yourself be influenced by nature, art, architecture, anything that captures your imagination.

Don’t overlook the soil. It’s the foundation of everything and taking time to understand it will make all the difference.

Lastly, get to know the horticultural community. It’s such a supportive and welcoming space, full of generous people who are always happy to share their knowledge and passion.

What gardening advice would you give to someone this summer? 

Take time to enjoy your garden. Summer is an exciting time so don’t get too caught up in the to-do list notice what’s working, what’s thriving and make space to simply be in the garden.

From a practical point of view, keep an eye on watering, especially anything newly planted and try to water deeply and less often to encourage strong roots. Mulching can really help retain moisture and keep plants happy during hotter spells.

It’s also a great time to reflect on how you’re using the space. Where do you naturally gravitate to? Are there areas you avoid? Use that as a guide for future changes. And if something hasn’t worked this year, that’s okay every season gives you a chance to learn and adapt.

Who is your gardening (or non-gardening!) heroes?

I’ve long admired Dan Pearson for the way he works so sensitively with landscape, his designs feel intuitive and deeply connected to place. 

Outside of gardening, I’m inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe. Her ability to really see the natural world, to notice detail and translate it with such power, inspires me. I even have a few of her prints at home to remind me of that way of looking.

I’m also hugely inspired by Kate Orff, whose work as a landscape architect is both visionary and grounded. She reimagines urban spaces in ways that centre ecology, equity and community and her work constantly pushes the field forward.

Each of them, in their own way, reminds me that working with land and nature is as much about care and observation as it is about creativity.