Soak up the atmosphere

Having transformed a bland suburban plot into a romantic, relaxing oasis, Sunil Patel has opened his garden for charity over the past two summers, and now invites us to take a look around...

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"I love how you feel when you're sitting in the garden, the surprise views and the things you stumble across"

Sunil Patel has been creating his garden in Berkshire for the past nine years. Romantic in style, it features herbaceous borders, roses and sculptures. There’s a playful contemporary twist too, with succulents in hanging baskets and pots, and whimsical details hidden among the greenery. The result is a garden that’s as surprising as it is inspiring, welcoming visitors on NGS open days to enjoy its blend of tradition and creativity.

Sunil shares his gardening journey at sunilpatel.co.uk

What was the garden like when you moved here, and did you have a plan?

When we moved in, the garden was mostly a blank canvas, with some areas of plants and shrubs that were overgrown, and a few weeds that needed clearing. I had this 'grand' plan for the garden, but really it was just a pencil sketch on a sheet of A5.

I couldn’t tackle it all at once, so I took it one small area at a time. I’d clear it, prepare it and plant it. If it was a border, then I’d work outwards. I’d focus on one bit or border at a time, get it looking good, before moving on to the next. This way, I avoided endless weeding or years of tedious digging. Tackling it piece by piece allowed me to see the progress, which was really encouraging.

What were your biggest challenges?