Making and Keeping a Flower Garden

Malverleys, a large and beautiful private garden south of Newbury, has a gardening team of five. Over the last seven years they have transformed a Tom Stuart Smith-designed garden into something completely different for the new owners. The head gardener and designer, Mat Rees, came to tell us about that process of redevelopment, which has had its challenges. The outcome is a varied and imaginative show-stopper, heavily influenced by Mat’s seven years at Great Dixter working with Christopher Lloyd.

Serious and articulate, Mat spoke with clarity and enthusiasm about this project. While satisfying the sometimes conflicting wishes of the owners, he has still had the opportunity to realise some of his own garden dreams. He made a big impression on the audience, helped by his first-rate pictures.

Malverleys is occasionally open to the public under the NGS, and is definitely worth a visit.