insideKENT Magazine Issue 117 - January 2022 | Page 151

Head Gardener , Terlingham Gardens by Pentland Homes
HOME + GARDEN
MEET THE GARDENER

MATT FIELDWICK

Head Gardener , Terlingham Gardens by Pentland Homes

TERLINGHAM GARDENS , SET IN THE VILLAGE OF HAWKINGE ON THE KENTISH DOWNS , IS AN EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OFFERING THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THE HEART OF THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND . EXPERT HEAD GARDENER MATT FIELDWICK HAS BEEN A PROFESSIONAL GARDENER SINCE THE AGE OF 16 , CARING FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND COMMUNITY GARDENS AND EVEN THE CHANNEL TUNNEL GROUNDS BEFORE RECEIVING A BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF LANDSCAPE INDUSTRIES ACCREDITATION .
Why did you want to be a gardener ?
I always felt inspired by the outdoors and love working outside in the fresh air .
Where did your interest in gardening begin ?
My mum and grandad were keen gardeners so it runs in the family and helped to spark my interest from a young age . I was always interested in caring for my own plants , so decided to turn what I love into a career .
Where did you study ? I studied at Hadlow College , Tonbridge for 2 years .
Who was / is your inspiration ?
Alan Titchmarsh has always been my biggest inspiration , especially when he used to do Ground Force . I always loved seeing how a space could be transformed using plants , ponds , landscaping works and furniture .
How long have you worked at Pentland Home ’ s Terlingham Gardens ?
I have been at Terlingham Gardens for five years , since the development first launched . Given the nature of the development as an exclusive over 55 ’ s development , the brief was to create landscaped communal areas which could be enjoyed by the residents and provide a space for socialising .
What appealed to you about working here ?
The community feel of Hawkinge village attracted me to want to work at Terlingham Gardens , as well as the expansive gardens and opportunity to create a beautiful space for lots of people to enjoy .
How do you approach designing gardens and landscaping for new property developments ?
Communication is key . Talking to the client to find out what their vision is and what they want from the space , then work with them to offer ideas to create their ideal garden space . Within property developments it ’ s important to consider how the development looks as a whole , it needs to be cohesive and designed with purpose . For example at Terlingham Gardens , communal spaces to entertain were key to the brief so we created lots of circular spaces .
Describe the gardens at Terlingham Gardens ?
Award winning ! The gardens have been designed as a rich tapestry of colours with a large variety of differing plants , trees and hedges , plus flowers which bloom throughout the year .
What ’ s your favourite part of the gardens ?
The communal areas are my favourite areas and the Pentland Homes team put lots of effort into putting on events such as wine and cheese nights , coffee mornings and even an annual tomato growing contest amongst the residents . You can get a real sense of Terlingham Gardens ’ community spirit through the care and attention when it comes to its community spaces .
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