Having spent many years working and travelling overseas, it didnt really seem a natural progression to swop the good life for a green one and I sort of stumbled into gardening quite by chance. I used to think a Red Hot Poker was a cocktail and Brachyglottis Sunshine was some sort of tropical disease.

However, what started out as the odd bit of hoeing and mowing unearthed a passion for plants, flowers, design and all things green and growing that I didnt know was in me. Having spent a couple of years working in various gardens in all aspects of landscaping, I decided to undertake a Diploma in Garden Design at Merrist Wood College, Guildford.

My Tutor is the award winning Designer, Andrew Wilson, who is also an author, Chelsea Flower Show Judge and Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers. Under his guidance and endless hours at the drawing board, I graduated from Merrist Wood with an invigorated desire to transform every garden into a haven of colour and beauty.

Andrew described my work as "bold, lively and confident" and it is these qualities that I believe set me apart from my competitors in my ability to create unique individual creative gardens.

I am passionate about what I do, it is tremendously rewarding and ultimately a lot of fun.

Cleo Pike
National Diploma in Garden Design