Interview with Lucy Willcox

In April 2024 Lucy was featured in a Garden Design Series on the new ITV show ‘Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club’, presenting mini masterclasses in design principles.

Several of her gardens have been featured in revered Garden Design books, magazine articles and national press.

Join us as we discuss more about her career... 

About You

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and what sparked your passion for garden design?

I discovered Garden Design in my early thirties and totally fell in love with it, so much so that I decided to embark on a change career and leave career in TV advertising behind to pursue a whole new path.

I've always loved gardening.

Which started with planting and tending to pot’s in a tiny balcony in my first flat - to buying my first house with a very overground garden and that’s when the gardening obsession really grew. This garden where I had an epiphany moment that I was going to leave advertising and retain as a garden designer. The passion for gardens since then hasn’t waned, in fact it’s become even more of an infatuation. 

How do you balance aesthetics with functionality in your designs?

As the phrase goes – Form follows Function.

You start with the wish list of how you’d like to use the garden and the aesthetic concept follows. The site analysis stage to understand your site is the most import stage, where the sun falls, the best and worst views.

And from that, you can start to form the basis of a design, working with the practical elements as well as the aesthetics ones - tying in both elements together to create a cohesive design.

What plans do you have for your garden this summer?

The planting in the garden is now in its third year so it’s starting to feel lovely and established.

All those successional planting layers are really giving us great seasonal displays. Starting with Perennials, to spring and early summer bulbs, followed by the summer and late summer Perennials -teamed up with our gorgeous ornamental grasses.

But there’s always room to squeeze in a few annuals, Cosmos and a few unexpected additions... that’s the beauty of gardens they are ever evolving and keep us on our toes!

Garden Inspiration

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I studied photography at university and so composing spaces and framing views has always been a really important part of the design process. I am also a huge modern and contemporary art lover, so gallery trips are always a place I find inspiration. 

If you could describe your ideal garden in three words, what would they be and why?

Immersive, embracing and connective.

What are some of the biggest trends you're seeing in garden design right now?

Gardens being designed more and more as outdoor rooms. There are some fantastic garden designers who are creating designs which are utilising every inch of the garden to include a myriad of great features and getting the best out of every space. 

Garden Advice

Where would you advise aspiring gardeners to go for inspiration on design and planting?

Instagram is a brilliant tool to see how the experts transform space!

The RHS shows are always great for seeing the Haute Couture of gardens and of course, the NGS open days and all of the RHS gardens around the country.

What advice would you give to someone who's on a tight budget but still wants a beautiful garden?

Ask friends and neighbours for cuttings and learn to grow from seeds. Annuals are a great way to add a punch of colour into the garden whilst waiting for the permanent plants to establish. Learn to grow from seed too. 

Tackle one area at time, be patient and the garden will slowly take forms.

What questions would you advise someone ask their garden designer before starting a project?

The best piece of advice would be, before you speak to a designer, to really hone down your wish list of how you want to use the space, so you also have a good understanding of what your brief is to them.

Any good designer will help you through that important first concept stage but collect as many reference images of which direction you’d like to take the design in, as it will really help the designer get a feel of what you’re setting out to achieve.