Renowned Gardener Will Tomson Shares Vision for Future Horticulture
Renowned garden expert Will Tomson, known for his innovative designs, shares his insights on the future of horticulture and his upcoming projects. With a background in ecology and a passion for nature, Tomson aims to create landscapes that benefit people, food, and wildlife for generations to come.
Tomson's journey began with studying ecology and guiding dog-sledding and whale-watching tours. He later discovered his passion for garden design, teaching songwriting to young people, and eventually building a landscape himself. His three most valuable gardening tips include planting for caterpillars, incorporating neat stone walls for habitat, and adding water bodies.
Tomson's favorite planting style is naturalistic with formal elements, selecting plants for both ecosystem function and aesthetic beauty. He admires gardeners like William Robinson, Christopher Lloyd, and Beth Chatto who challenge old conventions. His favorite landscapes include ponds, scrubland, woodland edges, and brownfield sites due to their biodiversity.
Tomson's next big project involves building more ponds of varying sizes to create interlinked habitats and plants. He sees the biggest challenge for gardeners today as creating resilient landscapes with longevity and sharing information about plant choices. To facilitate this, he runs a social night called Talking Plants in Sheffield for gardeners and plant lovers to share information.
Tomson's career aims to inspire new gardeners and create landscapes that last. He encourages gardeners to challenge conventions and learn from each other. His upcoming pond project and the Talking Plants initiative reflect his commitment to fostering resilient and diverse landscapes.
