Will of the wild

Above all else, the gardens designed by Jo Thompson have a sustainable ethos that embraces nature's plans

- HOLLY RANSOME

FOR garden designer Jo Thompson, we are not the owners of our outdoor spaces but more their custodians. The plots we take on have a past life and will be looked after by someone else in the future and nature will always have the final say. Jo thinks of her own work as 'gentle intervention', where she guides rather than dominates nature's own efforts.

This leaning into wilder forces is what makes the gardens Jo tends so special – 30 of which are showcased in her book The New Romantic Garden. Jo brings wisdom and ideas to her clients, understanding their needs and desires over many shared cups of tea, but she reminds them that nature will always preside.