Ecological gardening

With Head Gardener, Annie Talbot

‘Gardening goes deeper than simply creating artistic designs or growing your own food – it can support your local ecosystem, improve biodiversity and contribute to the conservation of native species.  

The principles of ecological gardening are simple: work with, not against nature to achieve a beautiful, sustainable garden. In the naturalistic planting designs of Oehme, van Sweden at the American Museum & Gardens, the team works with an understanding of the interactions between plants, insects, soil, water and the wider environment to create a thriving ecosystem for the benefit of humans and nature alike.’

Annie came to the American Museum & Gardens from Coleton Fishacre, a National Trust and RHS partner garden in Devon, renowned for its rare plant collection and ecological approach to gardening. She trained in Sustainable Horticulture at Schumacher College and has a wealth of experience in the environmental sector, with a Masters degree in Ecology & Environmental Sustainability and a decade working in conservation, culminating in managing 64 nature reserves and SSSIs for Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Having made the move from ecology into horticulture seven years ago, Annie started her gardening career at Hidcote Manor Garden, where she worked for several years, before moving to Devon, designing woodlands and growing 50,000 trees from seed per year as Tree Nurseries & Woodland Manager for the small charity Moor Trees. She is excited to bring her passion for sustainable horticulture to the American Museum & Gardens as the team take the naturalistic planting design of Oehme van Sweden into the future.