Gardening talent
Andy is in charge of the gardens at the National Trust’s Fenton House, where his love of the dramatic, and of bright and bold colours is transforming the property’s herbaceous borders
Meet Andy Darragh, the man in charge of the gardens at the National Trust’s Fenton House
Earliest garden memory Having grown up in a council flat with no green space, I longed for the summer holidays when we would visit my grandparents. They had a large 1950s-style garden that I used to relish helping out in. Edging was always a favourite job. First plant love I used to love the bright colours of bedding plants: the bolder, the brighter, the more flamboyant the better. Nothing has really changed; I still love flamboyant design and colour. My palette has since moved away from gaudy bedding plants but I still see no barriers when it comes to me redesigning a border, as you’ll see from the bright colours in our borders here at Fenton House. Favourite landscape I love water, romance, drama and a little fun in a garden. Villa d’Este near Rome has all these attributes; I love the romantic setting, the grottos, the massive fountains and water cascading down the terraces, creating a heaven away from the heat, which makes you feel like you’re in a dream. Most valuable training Learning all the basic, practical horticultural skills at Kew that started me off on my career path and spring-boarded my passion into a profession. Favourite planting style I love the style that we garden here at Fenton House: relaxed old English style. There is something about a walled garden with the magic of discovering the space inside the walls. I love the way this garden allows a creativity using flowering plants rather than dramatic landscaping. Biggest challenge facing gardeners today Many back gardens have simply become an extension of the house’s interior. I worry that this has created a disconnect. I like the idea of a garden as a creative green space that you can constantly keep working and creating, making a personal patch of idyllic green heaven – rather than what can be seen in an interior magazine or on a TV show. Plant not to be without A garden is not a garden in my opinion without a rambling or climbing rose. I know they might be traditional and perhaps old fashioned but they are so beautiful and the scents are incredible. The next question should be which cultivar, which would be impossible for me to answer to be honest. I would be hoarding like crazy to include as many as possible. Contact fentonhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk Fenton House, Hampstead Grove, Hampstead, London NW3 6SP. nationaltrust.org.uk