Gardens: Plot art

On an allotment in north London, Gillian Reynolds is bucking the grow-your-own trend with style and enthusiasm. Rather than just a traditional source of fruit and veg, her plot is a place to relax and entertain, somewhere she can indulge her passion for cut flowers and a place for experimentation and art. 'It may not be the best growing aspect but it is absolutely the best aspect for enjoying the view and for privacy.' Photograph: Rosalind Simon

Despite all the old metal, the effect is emphatically ‘garden’ rather than ‘junk yard’ and themed areas provide different garden design experiences. 'I was inspired by Sarah Raven for the cutting garden and started the dry garden after visiting Beth Chatto’s garden in Essex. The foliage border complements the cutting garden and herbaceous is the traditional English thing, of course.' The planting schemes are bold and energetic. 'There is a secret side of me that loves dahlias, they are wonderful for cutting and have wonderful colours.' Photograph: Rosalind Simon

All the garden furniture has been foraged from skips ('But I always ask first,' says Reynolds), while materials for the shed were salvaged from friends’ building projects. Photograph: Rosalind Simon

Reynolds is inspired by artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, and although the allotment was used for many happy outdoor projects when her children were young, it has since evolved into something entirely different. 'When I grew up in Canada we didn’t have a history of allotments, so I find it amazing how they exist in an urban setting,' she says. 'To have a little plot of land that you can tend and till. It has to be cultivated but you don’t only have to cultivate fruit and veg.' Photograph: Rosalind Simon

During a ‘welding and metal-banging period’ Reynolds created Dali-esque figures and abstract sculptures from her many finds. The contrast of decayed charm and contemporary planting is sophisticated. Reynolds has single-handedly invented post-apocalypse chic. A tree stump is festooned with springs and chains, curiously dainty out of their original context. A wire guardian angel oversees her domain. Photograph: Rosalind Simon

'I have a total weakness for rusty metal,' admits Reynolds. 'Rusty tools, bits of farm equipment, old chains, anything is perfect. The idea that people throw treasures in skips is wonderful!' Photograph: Rosalind Simon

'I like the fact that there are no rules,' says Reynolds, 'that you can play around, do your own thing and be free to experiment. It is about having fun. Perhaps deep down I wanted an artist’s studio and the space around it to be a sculpture garden with an amazing view.' Photograph: Rosalind Simon

Reynolds’ plants are thriving and her borders are packed with bouffant euphorbia and dahlias, architectural cardoons and wafting crocosmia, all liberally interspersed with her artistic creations. Photograph: Rosalind Simon

Gillian Reynolds at work on her artistic allotment in north London, where she has created a cutting garden, dry garden and deck, installing a wealth of objects and homemade artworks in amongst the fruit and flowers. Photograph: Rosalind Simon

The edible plants on the allotment are also structural. There are apples and grapes; artichokes and rhubarb, while modest lettuces thrive in a galvanised bath tub. 'I make grape juice and use the apples, but it not simply about what I can eat. I use the space a lot for having friends around and the spirit is one of pleasure and entertaining.' Photograph: Rosalind Simon