While Alexander Hoyle finds himself working on most days of the year, it makes it far more bearable that no two are ever the same. On one he could be turning a boring shopfront on a sparse London street into a green oasis, on another he might travel to Morocco for a consultation with a client, or to the south of France to build a garden on the deck of a yacht.
Now 26, becoming a professional plantsman and garden designer is something that Hoyle has been working towards since he was 11 years old and growing up in the Cotswolds. It turned from a childhood hobby into a four-year traineeship as a plantsman at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and has now flourished into working with private clients to devise their dream gardens. “Gardening is all I’ve ever known,” says Hoyle. “Getting outside is so important to me. I feel immensely lucky to not be stuck inside all day.”
Gardening is growing in popularity among millennials; a renaissance that is part of a greater resistance to being in front of a screen all day, whether it’s a phone or a computer, and getting involved in something that connects you to the real world. “Gardening really does help with mindfulness,” says Hoyle. “It sounds boring, but my favourite part of my day is watering and deadheading – it’s incredibly therapeutic.”
Hoyle is one of a new wave of young garden designers bringing a fresh eye and direction to a profession that was never before considered particularly “cool”. Social media has its fashion influencers and beauty influencers – and on Instagram Hoyle has been building his status as one of the growing community of gardening influencers, picking up almost 50,000 followers since he launched his account while working at Kew. He shares design inspiration and his favourite flowers (begonias are no longer considered “naff”, apparently).
He is mostly behind the camera on his Instagram account, and for Hoyle dressing right has less to do with being an influencer and more about dressing for a role that will see him outside, rain or shine, all hours of the day.
Hoyle says that the priority starts from the ground up. “You have to look after your feet when you are gardening. Shoes are incredibly important to me,” he says. Clarks shoes were something that he once equated with going back to school as a child. More recently, they have started to have more significance in the garden.
For Hoyle, leather Clarks Clarkdale Gobi Chelsea boots, with their elastic panel, are the optimum shoes for his job – mainly because they are so practical and comfortable, but also timelessly stylish, which makes them perfect to wear to a meeting without having to change.
“They have great ankle support and cushioning. These boots are ideal for every kind of weather – and I can get them on and off easily when I’m walking through a client’s house where a rug might cost more than my flat. They are also perfect for when I visit clients for design meetings. But, most importantly, they are also great for walks in the countryside, which is what I love to do the most.”
Outside of London, it’s the gardens of the West Country where you will find Hoyle most often, searching nurseries and grow houses for new plants. “The English garden is very important to what I do. I like to bring English country gardens to the city when I’m planting – I don’t see why it should be so different. What we do is very romantic and naturalistic – and you can enjoy that anywhere.”
Quickfire
Currently reading
I love Architectural Digest. I’m very into interiors and design – it’s one of my biggest passions after gardening.
Podcast recommendation
Gardeners’ Question Time on Radio 4 – I love that. They get excellent experts together and give very technical answers.
Inspiration
I’m always incredibly inspired by Umberto Pasti’s garden at his home in Tangier. Gardens in Tangier are incredibly beautiful.
A plant everyone should try growing
A scented pelargonium – it’s beautiful and hardy.
Favourite plant
I love anemones, a Japanese winter anemone. They are amazing.
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