Mary celebrates 40 years in horticulture
Architects, contractors and clients were among guests celebrating the tenth anniversary of Mary Stevenson Garden Design.
About 60 people were welcomed by Mary at the Royal Wells Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, for the occasion. Some can be seen in photographs accompanying this feature.
There was a chance to socialise, see a rolling slide show of gardens Mary and her teams have created, enjoy drinks and canapés and admire, then taste, the cake which featured a 3D version of the poppies to be seen on Mary's business cards.
Mary, who has been involved in horticulture for 40 years, turned her company's anniversary into a celebration of the whole garden design industry, particularly recognising the importance of the role of the British Association of Landscaping Industries (BALI).
BALI's directory is an indispensible tool for Mary. The work of members is rigorously vetted and she chooses contractors from among fellow members as she tackles projects across the country.
Mary, who lives in Queens Road, Crowborough, with her husband John, had wanted to design gardens from childhood but it wasn't until 2001 that she took the plunge and started her business.
She was preparing for the moment from the time she chose her A-levels, botany, zoology and geography, and went on to gain a degree in horticulture from Wye College, University of London.
She then worked for a commercial landscaping company, Blakedown Landscapes in the West Midlands, supervising the setting out of thousands of plants on commercial sites, car parks, around office blocks and along motorway embankments.
Mary joined the plantsman's nursery, Perryhill Nurseries, in Hartfield, after a move to East Sussex and was in charge of the sales area there.
A career change followed when mother-of-three Mary became a teacher but she says the best thing she ever did was to return to her true profession by starting her own garden design business.
Mary said: "It took me 30 years to do what I always wanted to do and it feels immensely satisfying and quite exciting to be celebrating my tenth anniversary in business."
At the party Mary talked about the team effort that went into creating her clients' gardens.
She singled out for special praise contractor Brian Woodgate, from B.D. Woodgate, and surveyor Nicola Godfrey, from ACAD Mapping. Both are based in Crowborough and work very closely with Mary.
Nicola's land surveys are the starting point for Mary's designs and Brian has built a number of her clients' gardens.
Brian commented: "I enjoy working with Mary. She always listens to what others have to say."
Architects, represented by Malcom Cassam from M.E. Cassam Associates, of Crowborough, and Gail Brooks from Cowan Architects, East Grinstead, were reminded, tongue in cheek, that their main role in the context of garden design was to provide the perfect back drop for a garden.
There was more praise too for Mary from her guests. Pete Chapman from Perryhill Nurseries said she was "always smiling, very easy going, very knowledgeable with a good eye for detail".
He added: "Mary has always made an effort to keep up her plant knowledge. It is very easy for a designer to have their favourites. We can often tell who is designing gardens just by plants on a list because they tend to use the same things. Mary can design whatever is wanted and is open to working with a client."
Client Andrew Hunot, who lives in a Grade 2 listed farmhouse in rolling countryside near Uckfield, said Mary really added value to a project by getting the right contractor in. He was impressed by the way she worked with Brian Woodgate and the final result exceeded expectation.
Rob Livett, administrator at All Saints Church, Crowborough, where Mary leads a volunteer gardening team, said she was always an easy person to contact, always giving of her time to help them out and her efforts were very much appreciated.
Another client Judy Goode, of Crowborough, said she had total faith in Mary. "I knew she would do a good job on our garden. She is very professional. The things she says she will do she does. She knows her plants and her decisions have all been the right ones."
Judy also appreciated the way Mary monitored progress of the build by liaising with the lads on site.
John Morell, of Sevenoaks, said Mary transformed the garden belonging to his apartment in a Grade 2 listed Georgian mansion. The garden was "unbelievably dreadful" but the transformation was "stunningly successful". He and his late wife Judy derived enormous pleasure from seeing it develop.
"The design was of great artistry and scale. The proportions are excellent and I think that must have been quite tricky, the proportions of paving to beds," he said.
Mr Morell added the relationship with Mary was very easy, very happy and trouble-free.
Mary told her guests that she hoped to have another party in ten years time when she celebrated the 20th anniversary of Mary Stevenson Garden Design.
If you have any further questions on garden design call Mary on 01892 667708 for a no-obligation chat
or email mary@msgd.co.uk.
