Dr Kim B Ashton | The Urban Potager

I have always had a deep connection with nature, having spent my childhood climbing trees, making dens, and persuading my family to eat foraged plants of varying palatability.

I spent hours of my youth practising the oboe, which led to my first career as a composer and lecturer in music at Cambridge University. To balance out the academic life, I started an allotment while doing my PhD, and spent increasing time down there as the PhD got harder! While I still love music, my interest in plants and sustainability eventually took over, leading to my career shift into garden design and landscape regeneration. 

I began working as a garden designer and planting consultant in London, Cambridgeshire and surrounds after achieving distinction in the British Academy of Garden Design‘s Postgrad Diploma. I also volunteer for biodiversity groups such as ‘On the Verge’ which establishes areas of native wildflowers on underutilised areas in towns and villages.

From my former career as a composer I bring a curiosity for how things fit together, which meshes remarkably well with the intricacies of planting and space design. A strong eye for detail and the ability to think laterally  are also essential for a composer; it's a real pleasure to apply these skills to designing vibrant, wildlife-friendly garden spaces for clients.