Designer Profile

Chris Hayes, Garden Desinger
Chris Hayes, Garden Desinger

I have been gardening as long as I have been able to walk so my mother tells me.

At the age of three I was given my first garden, a small plot at the bottom of the garden in which I grew vegetables and toy soldiers!

After leaving school I studied at Cannington College for two years gaining my NCH and ANCH in horticulture.

After leaving College I worked for many years maintaining a number of large gardens, this has given me a very good practical knowledge of gardening and plants which many other garden designers do not have.  

In 1997 I decided to make a natural career change and combine my two great interests of horticulture and art & design and after three years of hard work studying at Hadlow College in Kent, I graduated with a BA (hons) degree in garden design.

In 2000 after finishing university I setup my own garden design and landscaping business and have to date designed or built over 50 gardens.

At the age of seven or eight I was given a small cactus. This one plant soon multiplied and became a life long passion. I now have two greenhouses with over 800 species of cacti and other succulent and in 2006 I became secretary of the Somerset branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS).

Chris Hayes, Garden Designer Chris Hayes, Garden Designer

The Somerset branch of the BCSS normally meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Wellsprings Chapel, Taunton, commencing at 7.30pm and regularly exhibits at Taunton flower show winning gold for the past five years.

British Cactus and Succulent Society  www.bcss.org.uk.

British Cactus and Succulent Society Somerset Branch www.dannatt.org.uk/Taunton.

In 2001 I had the great privilege to become involved with the National Garden Scheme opening my garden for charity and have raised more than £800 to date.

I am very sorry but my garden will not be open for the NGS in 2012 as we are having well earned year off and I hope to have the garden open next year.