We’re not entirely sure where Derry Watkins finds the time. When she’s not tending to her nursery of the rare and extraordinary, to her adjoining gardens or to the organising of horticultural courses at that very venue, then there’s very chance she’s busy booking guest speakers for The University of Bath Gardening Club.

The club is now into its sixth decade and boasts an annual programme of lectures by speakers from all over the globe, as well as a growing number of garden tours throughout the country. Its future wasn’t always as bright or as certain though, as Nick found out found out when he managed to catch Derry on a rare, quieter moment for his regular garden design column in Bath Life.

For the full article, grab a copy of the current issue of Bath Life, or click here.

It’s not just the team at W&L that love this series of plates by Danish design-house Ferm Living, a tribute to womanhood; Bath Magazine has chosen them too for their Interiors Notebook this month. Revisiting the tradition of hanging platters on the wall or placing them on a table as an artful centrepiece, each plate features a simple silhouette of a woman,celebrating femininity in all its different shapes and colours. Painted by hand with casual strokes, each piece is unique..

Now available at our showroom, £89.50 each.

Thinking about a new year interiors project or refresh? Our latest projects are now live on the website, including a sympathetic refurbishment of a country cottage in Somerset, where we worked on everything from the redesign and build of the kitchen, bathrooms, reception areas and gardens. We worked especially closely with our clients, incorporating much-loved existing pieces, to create a colourful, contemporary and edgy take on British country style. Have a peek, here.

Many garden-lovers cite these winter months as their favourite time of year to visit the nearby gardens of Hauser and Wirth Somerset. It is testament to the exceptional plant knowledge of designer Piet Oudolf that such interest can be sustained through the seasons with the inclusion of just three evergreen grass varieties and not one clipped form.  

Just five years since opening to the public, this project is undoubtedly one of Oudolf’s finest and has recently been celebrated by plantsman and garden designer Rory Dusoir in a new book. Fortunately Rory was able to take some precious time out from a family trip to Korea to answer a few questions for Nick’s latest garden design column in Bath Life. For the full interview, pick up the latest copy of Bath Life (out today) or click here. 

Nick started his garden design column in Bath Life this year with his highlights of the horticultural diary for 2020 in and around Bath.

The article features a range of talks, workshops, open gardens and plant fairs throughout the year. A highlight of the year is a talk by Midori Shintani, head gardener at Tokachi Millennium Forest.

Now into its sixth decade, the University of Bath’s Gardening Club’s programme of monthly talks sees a wealth of inspiring speakers from all corners of the globe. Amongst these in 2020 is Midori Shintani, head gardener at Tokachi Millennium Forest. This bold conservation project is set in the foothills of the Hidaka mountain range on Hokkaido, the most northern of Japan’s islands. The park was originally conceived by entrepreneur Mitsushige Hayashi to offset the carbon footprint of his newspaper empire and to reverse the reduction of natural habitats on the island. Midori has held the role of head gardener there since 2008, seamlessly merging the New Japanese Horticulture movement with the landscape’s wilder nature. In the talk, Midori will discuss this unique garden movement and how her team tends to both the native and the more cultivated spaces at Tokachi.

Gardening in The Millennium Forest

9^th March, University of Bath Gardening Club

We’re smitten with our new selection of plates from Vetrofuso, so much so, they’re currently taking pride of place in our window.

Designed by Daniela Poletti Zino, and named after one of the founders of futurism, these ‘Balla’  plates are handcrafted from precious Murano glass in Venice. Painted with a tri-colour stripe motif, they’re perfect for setting the stylish tone at your dining table, or beyond.

Each of our “Pebble-caillou” vases is  unique and handmade, and unusually for glass, has an obvious softness of the hand in its gentle form.

The collection features bold organic shapes that characterise Amsterdam-based designer Kate Hume’s work, with an emphasis on jewel-bright colours.

The vase has been selected by Bath Life for its gift guide, out on the shelves now.

In the final of a series of interviews with some of the city’s most talented head gardeners, Nick speaks to Alice Palfrey, who heads the all-female team at Prior Park Landscape Garden. Alice also happens to be the National Trust’s youngest head gardener.

For the full article, head to Nick’s regular garden design column in the current issue of Bath Life.

Rattan is definitely one of the lead trends in interior this season, so this rather handsome drinks trolley provides the perfect opportunity to subtly add this warm material to the home.

Taking inspiration from the interiors of the Caribbean, the frame is of a rich mahogany, with glass-topped rattan shelves offering space for your favourite glassware and tipples.

Featured in the current Autumn interiors issue of Bath Life and on display in our showroom.