your stories | Tom Stimpson
Tom is the Head of Horticulture here at Sarah Raven.
He overseas everything from the beauty and compatibility of the range, to managing the growing at our nursery in Lincolnshire to ensure your plants are of the very best quality.
We’re lucky to have him
Where do you garden?
Small town garden, 10mx7m, gravelled, two main flower beds and over 100 pots of all sizes
How much time do you spend in the garden each week?
As much as possible! Many weekends and then evenings for deadheading and watering
Can you pinpoint when you first got ‘into’ gardening?
When I was a child and helping my mother to plan and plant summer containers. Totally hooked.
How would you describe your gardening style in 3 words?
Abundant. Colourful. Pollinator-friendly.
Can you share three life skills you wish you were taught at school?
Time management, confidence and technology skills
What’s your ultimate gardening hack?
Adding planted pots and containers to empty spaces in the border to inject some colour during July before the dahlias and later flowering perennials kick in. It makes a huge difference to the look and feel of the garden.
What does gardening mean to you, and why do you do it?
It means an awful lot – I could not imagine my life without gardening and being close to nature. Hearing the sounds of busy birds and insects, the evening fragrance of scented flowers, sowing and cutting – it all feeds my soul.
Any tips for unwinding and switching off?
I love a good read, long walks, both locally and along the north Norfolk coast and travel – the ultimate switch off!
What is the piece of gardening kit you cannot live without?
Snips – whenever I head into the garden, I put them in my pocket for deadheading and for cutting flowers to bring inside
What's next on your reading list?
A Wood of One’s Own by Ruth Pavey. Looking forward to learning how Ruth bought 4 acres of scrubland in the Somerset levels and began to restore and plant a wood. How wonderful.
Discover more about Tom’s garden and his top tips for small space gardening below
