Kym’s tips

1 Spending time in the garden is something that really appeals. Being in it, walking around at different times of day and in different lights; it’s so wonderful to sit and contemplate the changing view.

2 Keep experimenting with new things. When Simon started gardening here, he started using the compost bins that our designer Ian Smith at Acres Wild had specified, but that the previous gardener hadn’t bothered with. We’ve been using the results to feed the soil around the roses and it’s made a huge difference to how healthy they are.

3 We try and do as much on site as possible as that’s the environmentally-friendly way – not bringing things in and not taking them away. We have lots of trees and we collect the leaves and put them under the hedges as a mulch. It’s great for encouraging wildlife.