I believe that everybody deserves to have a beautiful outdoor space they can call their own.  To have your own garden, balcony or collection of pots and window boxes is one of the most rewarding things you can invest your time and effort into – not only for aesthetic reasons, but for your physical and mental health too.  [If you have time, I would urge you to read this fantastic article – ‘The Healing Power of Gardens: Oliver Sacks on the Phsychological and Physiological Consolations of Nature.‘]

The reason I set up The Bonnie Gardener was to help people discover how they can make the most of their gardens and outdoor spaces, in a way that means something to them, and in a way that is manageable and sustainable for them too.  A garden is a very personal space and there is no one-size-fits-all approach; a ‘perfect’ outdoor area will look very different to a young couple with a toddler than it will to a retired person or somebody in full time education.

I have always had a huge passion for gardening, the outdoors and nature, and this all shines through in my professional work. I have worked professionally as a gardener for six years and all of the knowledge I have gained through working with and caring for plants is what I now use in my planting designs.

My love of gardening was sparked by my parents when I was very young, but my passion was really ignited when I got my own allotment in 2012.  At the time I had a successful desk job and I knew relatively little about gardening and plants.   From the moment I got my own outdoor space I  spent every spare moment I had in it, and when I wasn’t planting, tidying, building, propagating and crafting, I had my head in books learning how to cultivate a successful plot.  I then decided to study horticulture with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and gained my RHS qualifications in 2015.

I left my desk job and spent two years working for a large commercial gardening company before setting up The Bonnie Gardener in 2016.   What I love most about my work is that every day is a school day – the more you learn, the more you discover that you need to learn more.  I am currently studying again with the RBGE and undertaking a diploma in Herbology – a course that explores the medicinal and healing properties of many of our native wild flowers, garden plants and what we often refer to as ‘weeds’.

I have a huge passion for combining plants and creating beautiful and happy outdoor spaces – I love nothing more than sharing that with people.  

If you would like to find out more, please get in touch.

Nicola Todd-Macnaughton, The Bonnie Gardener