Gardening talent
Forde Abbey’s new head gardener studied horticulture in Japan, America and Europe and earlier this year was awarded Churchill Fellowship funding to look at sustainable soil practices overseas
Meet Joshua Sparkes, new head gardener at Forde Abbey
Earliest garden memory I grew up in the old town in Hastings and I remember all the self-seeded echiums rising like rocket ships above people’s fences and wondering what on earth they were. First plant love I love my Nan’s tree fern that she got in a local hardware store when I was a kid, I remember trying to cram it into the back seat of her Mini to get it home. It’s even more of a love story because now it is mine and it reminds me of her every day. Who has inspired your career the most? My old head gardener Troy Scott Smith at Sissinghurst. He taught me to question everything, persevere through criticism and to trust your instincts. A garden that has influenced you Ichijo-ji temple in Japan. While studying there I learned about the deep emotional response a garden can create. My experience there stripped away my previous notions of what a garden was; it was hearing the rain hit the wooden roof, my bare feet on the cold floor, the smell of incense burnt into the black wood while watching a mist rise over the mountains. Biggest challenge facing gardeners today I worry about the future of historic gardens and their relevance as the trend moves towards ‘sustainable’ and ‘ecological’ gardening, which seems only to include one aesthetic. Sustainability needs to be considered in a sympathetic way that maintains the unique character of a garden, retaining its history without branding certain practices and designs as wrong. We can manage all gardens in a sustainable way whatever their style. What principles guide your attitude to gardening For me it’s about being organic when practically possible, allowing the natural seasonal rhythm through the year, celebrating the beauty of both life and death and being holistic and relaxed in my gardening style. Favourite gardening books I love the Teaming with… series by Jeff Lowenfels about life in the soil, I also find myself returning to Essay on Gardening by Henk Gerritsen a lot and have a well-thumbed copy of The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka. What’s the next big project in the garden? I’ve just got back from America and Europe looking at methods of soil management from a gardener’s perspective. We have just built a new compost facility and will be trailing methods, I really want to see what works best for the future, especially as our climate changes. Contact josh@fordeabbey.co.uk and follow him on Instagram at joshua_sparkes