The Garden at Poplar Grove is central to the ceramic work, the courses and to display and sell work at my twice-yearly exhibitions. It has evolved over twenty years and is a source of pleasure to me and to many people who visit under the National Garden Scheme. The garden is primarily a domestic space and has an exhibition garden, scented garden, living roof and a sunken pebble mosaic 'cave' which faces west and has plants growing above. The soil is free draining, sandy and acidic. The microclimates created by the buildings and suburban infrastructure provide ideal shelter for half hardy and tender planting, some of which is rare. Plants of note are Acacia Dealbata (Mimosa), Rhododendron 'Fragrantissima', Iochroma Australis (blue and white forms), Paulownia Tomentosa, Melianthus Major, Azara, Dienella Cerulea and a collection of Phormiums and Abutilons together with many other plants which are strong on form and texture. The garden was doubled in size ten years ago, when the adjacent garden was added to the original space. A mirror at an angle at the point of the diagonal increases this illusion further. A sculpture to one side is reflected in the mirror. A long canal provides a reflective focal point in the main space. The sculpture garden was made as a response to a competition for ITV's 'Britain's Best Back Gardens' in 2005, where we were invited to design a change of use for an area in the garden. The garden has been featured in many press articles and on television, and also won a Gold Medal at this year's RHS Tatton Flower Show for a Cumbrian Nursery. It also recently won the Sunday Times 'Back Garden of the Year' Competition for Best Established Garden. Click here to read the article. Please click on the thumbnails below to see some photographs of the garden, or contact me to find out when the garden is open to the public.