The Garden Design Confessional

In the final episode of this series Darren talks to Dame Laura Lee and her co-commissioner Marcia Blakenham about their working relationships with the architcects and landscape designers that they have worked with over the past 26 years. They explain why landscape became an intrinsic part of each centre and how it facilitates important conversation and is crucial in easing people's arrival for the...

Darren travels to Hummelo in the Netherlands to meet Piet Oudolf at his home and studio. Piet talk us through his process, how the work has changed over the years and why he was excited to work with Maggie's on his garden at The Royal Marsden centre.   Check out more of Piet's work at his website here To find out more about Maggie's visit their website here To find out more about Darren Hawkes see...

In this episode Darren meets Lily Jencks to talk about the magical landscape that she designed for Maggie's Glasgow.   As the daughter of Maggie Keswick Jencks Lily has a very personal insight to the mission of the charity which we touch on as well as her own approach to design and collaboration.   To find out more about her work visit her website here  T o find out more about Maggie's visit their...

Darren talks to Garden designer Pip Morrison about gardening, designing and how the two feed one another in a symbiotic fashion. Pip discusses why he took the plunge to create a garden in the deepest of shade for Maggie's Oxford. To find out more about Pip's garden at Maggie's click here To find out more about Maggie's visit their website here To find out more about Darren Hawkes see the link  her...

Darren meets Arabella Lennox-Boyd at her home in Lancashire to discuss her garden for the Frank Gehry designed Maggies Dundee. Arabella talks openly about her career, her love of plants and the way in which she both instinctive and analytically creates her gardens. She shares some great insights in to her process and reflects on the lessons learnt spanning the last five decades. To find out more a...

Darren talks to Kim Wilkie about life, the cosmos and getting levels correct at Maggie's Swansea. Kim leads us through his thinking process and shares his understanding of how we find our place within the landscape. We talk in depth about his work with Maggie's as well as some other notable projects. To find out more about Kim and his work visit his website here To find out more about Maggie's vis...

Darren talks to Marie-Louise Agius at the garden she designed for Maggie's in Leeds.   They laugh about the difficulties of getting started, talk about how chance meetings can lead to something wonderful and discuss the woodland garden she created for Maggie's. To find out more about Marie-Louise see the link to the studio's website here To find out more about Maggie's visit their website here   T...

Darren and Dan meet at Maggie's West London to discuss design, plants, and how to deal with overload.   Dan talks through his process and some great anecdotes along the way. To learn more about Dan and his studio's work see his website here .   For his latest writing and musings see Dig Delve To find out more about Maggie's visit their website  here To find out more about Darren Hawkes see the lin...

Darren talks to Sarah Price at Maggie's Southampton about working during the pandemic, the big moments of her career and the influence of dance on her design style. To find out more about Sarah's work see her website here To find out more about Maggie's visit their website here To find out more about Darren Hawkes see the link here The Garden Design Confessional is produced by Karen Pirie

Darren Hawkes meets some of the world's leading garden designers who confess the secrets and pitfalls of great garden design.