In this week's episode I chat to RHS Young Designer of the Year, Freddie Strickland.

This episode was recorded at the beautiful Iford Manor Gardens near Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, a garden which both Freddie and I have wanted to visit.  Luckily, garden owners William and Marianne allowed us to sneak in through the back door as the garden is currently closed for winter.

Freddie tells me how he got into garden design, about his course and his lecturer and landscaper, Matt James. He also talks about the process he went through to apply for the RHS Young Designer of the Year and his Tatton Park show garden, ‘On Tropic’. He recounts the build of the garden, the judging process and the moment when he was announced as the winner of the RHS Young Designer of the Year competition, live on national television.

In an in-depth conversation Freddie talks about making the transition from college to starting out on your own in the world of garden design world and the importance of building a great relationship with clients to ensure the best possible garden is designed, built and planted for them.

Freddie is clearly an ambitious, enthusiastic and dedicated garden designer.  I look forward to seeing what he does next and will follow his career with much interest. Head over to Freddie's website for more information, www.freddiestickland.com. 

My thanks to Freddie for taking the time to chat to me and for taking me to Iford Manor Gardens.

Pictures of our visit to Iford Manor gardens can be found by visiting my Instagram page, @mike_thegardener. And you can find out more about Freddie by visiting his Instagram page @freddiestricklandgardens.

As always, please do follow/subscribe as there are still more episodes to come in series 2.  And, if you listen via Apple podcast, please do leave a review.

And I will see you next week with a Hosta plant special episode!

Mike