Guy Deakins - Historic Gardens Company

Author
A Design Consultant led by Neuroscience
A Bespoke Garden Service
An Historic Garden Specialist
A Plant Care Specialist
Seaside Garden Specialist
Soil and Biodiversity Management
Small Estate Management
Public Speaker

what we offer

Offering a truly bespoke garden service, Guy's expert knowledge extends to: Historical garden & landscape consultants: Neuroscience led Spatial Design: Biodiversity management: Wildflower meadows : Fruit & vegetable growing : Pest & disease management : Tree, shrub and perennial pruning: fruit tree care: Glass-house keeping : Espalier & fan training : Interiors & orangeries : Vines : Coppicing and green wood use : Ponds, lakes and rivers.

Design Psychologist led by Neuroscience.

Guy has strived for many years to realise a personal ambition to understand how we, as humans, see beauty. In the first instance, his degree taught him design psychology. Further study led him on a path of neuroscience and the working of the brain. Therefore, to some extent how we see beauty is down to culture, prejudice and learned bias, but there are also inherent structures within the brain that direct decision-making and release oxytocin. Utilising the latest knowledge and understanding of the human condition, Guy offers a consultation service that brings together nature and nurture to create the perfect environment in your garden.

Bespoke Gardening & Estate Management

At the outset, Guy offers his clients with an honest approach to gardening. He prides himself in his extensive knowledge of many practices, both modern and traditional. His exquisite services are primarily aimed at larger gardens, but we are always happy to look at smaller projects. Over the years he has gained experience of many environments and styles, but his main focus is on plant and soil care, for which he is an expert.

Over recent years he has extended his knowledge to managing small estates and small-holdings, which include the upkeep of grape vines, hay meadows and other farm related issues – though his primary role is always that of garden consultant. If the job is too specialised, Guy has many contacts within the industry who can facilitate your needs, from building permanent structures safely, ploughing fields and installing vineyards to installing commissioned artworks.

Garden Reconstruction and Restoration

If you have a more historically inspired or indeed an historically important garden, Guy has a degree in Design History and has a wealth of experience in working to many different styles, from the Renaissance to Modernism. Depending on your budget, he can offer clients a historical reconstruction and installation service following strict historical records or, historically accurate planting combined with existing features.

If you are seeking a garden that utilises the full extent of the brain’s capacity to see, feel and hear beauty, Guy has studied neuroscience at degree level, to understand how beauty is perceived and relayed to the brain. Depending on your culture, he is happy to consult with you on your wishes.

NB. As a company, we do not undertake hard-landscaping or building work of any kind, but do use or can recommend companies that undertake such work if that is what is required.

Gardening Talks.

Guy is very keen to help others gain knowledge. His talks are both quirky and informative, utilising mnemonic techniques to enhance the experience.

A current list of talks include:

Schrödinger’s Garden:

At any given time our garden is both alive and dead. According to neurobiology our sense of taste is both nurture and nature. How do we see a garden. How can a designer improve on their art?

Sun Tzu in the garden:

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general and military strategist. Required reading at both Sandhurst and Harvard Business School, his book ‘The Art of War’ has a surprising relevance to fighting pests and diseases in the garden. This talk is a light-hearted and informative look at his military strategy for dominance on the battlefield that really does help tame garden pest and disease.

Committing the perfect murder and how to feed the garden at the same time:

You’ve committed the perfect murder, but how can you put the body to good use in the garden? A light hearted talk about feeding the soil to feed your garden!

Restoration, Renovation, Reworking:

An illustrated guide on how to approach a garden of historical importance. How can we preserve and restore our national heritage? Guy has for many years been renovating, restoring and has worked with garden owners to restore some of the country’s hidden historical gems. This talk is a visual treat for those who want to see some secret gardens or learn more about conservation or historical reworking.

about

Guy Deakins. BA (Hons). ANC (Hort).

The name Deakins has been associated with design and horticulture since at least the Victorian era, Guy Deakins (BA Hons. ANC Hort. ) being just the latest member to be involved in what is evidently a family tradition. Aside from adding to the historically listed designs to the name, Guy has achieved much in his own right, successfully becoming a published author. His book on ‘Protective Growing’ from The Crowood Press, receiving many positive reviews.

about-guy-roses-large

Since starting the business in 1999, Guy has gained experience in many differing environments from small courtyards and roof gardens in the heart of the city, fen gardens in rural Norfolk, windswept beach-side formal gardens, and country estates designed by twentieth century cognoscente – with just about every beautiful variation in between.

With the coming of the global climate crisis, the focus of the company is always to encourage biodiversity whilst maintaining a good design aesthetic. To this end, Guy studied neuroscience at degree level, so that he could fully understand the brain’s aesthetic pathways when looking at shapes, structures and colours.

about-guy

Upon completing his horticultural qualifications with distinction and winning gold at a horticultural show in 2005 Guy has worked alongside the owners of gardens in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and London. He has also gained an insight into commercial methods by earning the title of Head Gardener for the horticulturally important Holland Park in London. His crowning glory, so far, was volunteering to work alongside the head gardener at the Orchid Gardens in Singapore – a role he enjoyed immensely.

Guy lives with his wife and two children on the glorious Thames Estuary north of Canterbury. In his spare time, he has written articles for newspapers such as The Whitstable Whistler and The Horsham District Post and enjoys giving talks to those societies that hold such events – for a small fee. He is also a published poet and writer, a keen artist and photographer -having trained at art college – talents that enhance his gardening and design abilities greatly.

“As a company, we are not profit orientated. This we believe gives us a more honest attitude to our work and our customers. If we make a saving, you make a saving.” We try to use or encourage the use of sustainable resources. We safely use recycled tools and equipment. Old tools in capable hands will last another lifetime. As a company, we are now proud to be using only ‘carbon offset’ machinery. We strive to use organic methods in all our work.”

We are fully certified, qualified and trained to the highest degree, science is our bible.

contact

If you would like to find out more, or need advice on how to proceed with a consultation, please contact Guy via email or phone.

Phone: +44 (0)7896 184644
Email: email@guydeakinsgardening.com