In 1995, I was head gardener at Heveningham Hall, a beautiful country estate in Suffolk. Although I love design and gardening, my deepest passion was always herbalism. At that time, I didn’t know that people still practised herbal medicine and believed it to be a medieval concept. But then something quite magical happened.
The owner of the estate sent me on a tour of the great gardens of England to take inspiration. One day, as I was driving through London, I saw the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Right opposite the entrance was a parking space, so I skidded in and jumped out. As I approached the gate, someone stopped and offered me her ticket, and I was in.
The very first thing my eyes landed on was the tent of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Instantly, my compass shifted and my destiny changed forever.
Now full circle – I am absolutely thrilled to have been invited by Alitex, the designers and manufacturers of exquisite Victorian-style glasshouses, to talk on a panel with other experts, at Chelsea, about how growing plants can help us cope with a very modern problem – overwhelm.
Naturally, I shall be sharing the herbs that can be grown in the glasshouse (or on a windowsill), which help to calm and balance our moods and stress response.