Gardening talent

Known collectively as The Land Gardeners, friends Bridget (left) and Henrietta are fast establishing a reputation for their walled garden designs and impressive cut flowers – as well as their passion for compost

Meet The Land Gardeners Henrietta Courtauld and Bridget Elworthy

Earliest garden memory We both have similar memories of running mud pie factories and conducting the herbaceous borders as if each of the plants were part of an orchestra. Who has inspired your career? Beatrix Havergal – a brilliant horticulturist and passionate educator, who founded Waterperry School of Horticulture in 1932; Lady Eve Balfour a British farmer, educator and organic gardening pioneer and a founding figure in the organic movement; Vita Sackville-West for her love of abundance and wild fun, and Nancy Lancaster for a bit of glamour. How did you meet and what sparked your idea of working together? We met through a friend. We were both working in the world of gardens and realised we shared a similar philosophy about gardens and growing – a belief in a living, biodiverse garden with healthy soil at its core. Favourite planting style Frothy, natural and romantic. We love Cecil Beaton. We love the romanticism of the 1930 and 40s, and we also love rows of flowers and vegetables in a walled garden. Important thing to remember when gardening Gardening is not about perfection or control – it is a process of learning and evolving. Most useful plant that you grow Peonies – they are wonderful cut flowers and the roots have medicinal properties. We are working with herbalists who use the roots in their preparations. Favourite gardening websites or social media On Instagram we follow @idleriver [photographer Howard Sooley], @fernverrow [biodynamic growers] and @mccormickcharlie [flower grower]. We read the newsletters from Kay Baxter at the Koanga Institute, Graeme Sait at Nutri-tech Solutions and Patrick Holden at the Sustainable Food Trust. Acres USA is a good source of interesting books. What’s the next big project you’ll be tackling in the garden? Building and testing our compost windrows [layered compost rows], and feeding the soil with compost and compost teas, growing more herbs and learning more about the medicinal properties of plants both for humans, animals and plants. Contact studio@thelandgardeners.com You’ll find a programme of their workshops and events at thelandgardeners.com. Events take place in both London and at their Oxfordshire base at Wardington Manor.