Christopher Silvester
My approach recognises the power of gardens and green spaces to enhance and nourish mental and physical wellbeing. Gentle pottering in a garden can be both mindful and rewarding. I believe gardens should be a place of total sensory immersion and offer visual beauty alongside interesting edibles, tactile plants, and wonderful scents. I am often inspired by the local landscape and seek to bring a little of the essence of the surroundings into the garden. Garden builds need to be environmentally conscious and seek to maximise sustainability and wildlife benefit.
My approach to planting seeks sustainable and ecologically informed solutions to the challenges presented by each garden space. In the face of a changing climate, designs need to be tailored to the harsh conditions often experienced by our gardens. My approach involves careful analysis of the local environment to produce planting schemes that will not only look fantastic but also thrive.
Biography:
I have always had a passion for horticulture and have been an enthusiastic gardener since I have been old enough to hold a trowel. I decided to obtain formal training as a Garden Designer in 2021 and obtained a Diploma in Garden Design from LCGD. I also have an RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture.
Prior to retraining in horticulture, I studied and worked as an archaeologist for ten years. I obtained a PhD in bioarchaeology (the study of human remains) in 2021 after 3 years of intensive research. I bring the scientific and detailed approach developed during my archaeological career to my design solutions.
The garden was located in the heart of the Chilterns surrounded by the woodland of Chesham Bois. My design sought to create a luxurious space for socialising and relaxing amidst a sea of edible plants. I was inspired by the potager garden, which recognises the value of designing with plants that have both edible and ornamental properties. Neat rectilinear forms cut across the garden giving it a sense of modernist formality and unify the space. The dining area is framed by planting and a sequence of tiered pools. A flat lawn provides a place for recreation and play. The materials used in the design referenced local flint and brick houses and the layout of the space framed the view of the woodland beyond.
The garden was located in Ascot near the Windsor Great Park. The garden was enclosed by beautiful broadleaved woodland. My design sought to create a lush and beautiful garden which would provide respite from the frantic pace of modern life and offer nourishment for the body as well as the mind; a place to be present in the immediate moment.
Close to the house a productive garden offers a space to grow wholesome and sustaining food. It can offer fresh produce throughout the seasons.
Follow tranquil paths through drifts of gravel and drought tolerant planting near the house; calming and ethereal grasses sway in the breeze among delicate perennials. The planting design is tailored to the environmental challenges of the site with drought tolerant species to increase resilience during extremely dry summers.
In the woodland area, find retreat spaces for mindful contemplation and meditation or somewhere to read a book amongst nature. Pools provide a magnet for wildlife.
Social spaces complete the feeling of sanctuary within the garden. Relax with a drink with friends on the terrace or host a BBQ.
The garden provides a serene haven for a family to enjoy.
The brief for this garden was to create an immersive landscape on a hilltop site for a mindfulness retreat and restaurant. The design was inspired by the Cumbrian landscape, in particular the adjacent salt marsh and estuary. The hill marks a resilient and steadfast landmark in the landscape of the estuary; a hardy bedrock that has witnessed the renewal of the local landscape across the millennia. A garden inspired by the resilient foundation of the rock alongside the changeability of the estuary will create a space that develops a sense of ease, calm and wonder in visitors.
Visitors to the garden will enter an enchanting environment as they journey to the central hub and abandon the outside world. The paths of the space will recall the shifting anastomosing channels of the estuary. Delicious food made using sustainable and ethically sourced local produce, places for meditation, gathering and rest are at the core of the experience. Dishes will be driven by seasonally available produce and feature elements from the garden. Guest will be invited to venture into the wider landscape of the garden from the central hub. Walk among an orchard and admire the gnarled forms of ancient broadleaved trees. Drink in the beauty of a meadow shifting through the seasons. Find comfort in exclusive and secluded cabin accommodation overlooking a lake. At the heart of the garden will be the meditation garden focused on the craggy form of the hilltop; this will form the ultimate place for immersion in the landscape.
