I was an early reader of Gardens Illustrated (GI). At that time, the early 1990s, it was something new; a fresh and unique publication exploring gardens that people had never seen before. The magazine would arrive regularly from England and was always very interesting for me.
Since then, I have been fortunate to have many of my gardens featured in the magazine, but gardens and gardening have changed dramatically since it first came out. It used to be difficult to get a public space featured in a magazine, but now many designers, such as Tom Stuart-Smith, are transitioning from creating only private spaces to also doing public realm. People want to see projects like this, and I am happy that GI recognises the importance of public landscapes with a large chapter in its new book.
There’s also a big difference in who is interested in gardening now. If Instagram is any indicator, the age of the people who love our work is between 25 and 45 years old, and a lot of people now change their career to go into gardening. In the past, it was just the establishment and home gardeners who liked nice plants. Now people like the style of gardening, and they try to learn about it so that they can do it for themselves. They are interested in architecture in the landscape and contemporary planting, not just rose gardens.
I love traditional gardens because they are historically interesting, and they can look very beautiful and decorative, so it’s not that I am against gardens from the past. It’s more that I want to bring people into the future, where we will have to be more aware of habitats and biodiversity, and of where plants like to grow.
This book brings together generous imagery with insightful writing to show some of the most exciting contemporary gardens and the people behind them Dan Pearson
Climate fluctuations add complexity. We have more to deal with than before, whether that’s a lack of water, or a lot of water because we have more rainfall than ever in some places – you can’t just use dry planting, because it will suffer in the rain, and the other way around. You can only react, not act before things happen, so we react with our planting, we react to the climate and try to make the right changes.
The title of this book is The New Beautiful, and I think it’s true that a fresh aesthetic is developing that embraces these challenges, and there is a lot of experimentation going on – a new kind of gardening, especially with gravel gardens and brownfield gardens. Nobody knows the results of all this yet, but what is important is that those who are forging this path continue to be curious.
The magazine has always featured established designers, but also talented, emerging designers who are coming through. This is so important because many young designers struggle to gain recognition, as clients prefer well-known names. You have to work hard to get into this world, and GI offers a stage or podium for young people who are starting out to show their work. It’s one of the few ways that people can learn about new designers.
From small courtyards to large private gardens and public spaces, this is an extraordinary survey of the best in contemporary garden design. I am filled with optimism as I leaf through these sumptuous pages Tom Stuart-Smith
Any successful garden also requires good gardeners, but finding skilled professionals is increasingly difficult. We need people who really understand plants, as without knowledgeable caretakers, gardens decline – they require long-term commitment and expert care. I am pleased to see that the
team at GI continue to actively seek out, discover and promote not just new designers but also the skilled gardeners we need to look after our planting.
Thirty years on, I still love it when the magazine arrives. You get to see people’s gardens, discover and rediscover good plants, and it also keeps you updated with what is going on in the world of gardens – there’s no other magazine that does that. Gardening is evolving, and in the magazine and this book, Gardens Illustrated highlights innovative approaches, making it an invaluable resource for designers
and enthusiasts alike.
This is an edited extract from the foreword to The New Beautiful: Inspiring gardens for a resilient future (Rizzoli, £65), the new Gardens Illustrated book, which goes on sale on 16 September. Pre-order it now direct* to receive your copy in an exclusive, special-edition slipcase.
The New Beautiful showcases 52 of the most inspiring and innovative gardens in the UK and around the world. It features lauded gardens including Great Dixter and Knepp as well as the work of top designers such as Andy Sturgeon, Tom Stuart-Smith, Dan Pearson, Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Sarah Price, Heatherwick Studio and Nigel Dunnett, and innovators such as Peter Korn and Joshua Sparkes.
Order online at ourmediashop.com/GIBOOK25 or call us on 03330 162138† and quote ‘GI BOOK 25’
*UK price is £65, plus £5.75 tracked postage. Please see the website for overseas prices. Please allow up to 28 days for delivery from the on sale date of 16 September 2025. Subject to availability. †UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Lines open weekdays 9am to 5pm for orders and enquiries.