“There are lots of parallels between fashion and horticulture and the two definitely influence each other.
“I have no regrets about being involved in fashion as all roads lead to where I am now but nobody was talking about fast fashion in those days. Our outlook was different, it just wasn’t seen as important in the mainstream.”
Arit is keen to step away from that with her gardening and to promote the message to all gardeners that they need to be mindful with their choices.
“It’s no good planting lots of bee friendly plants but then continuing to use insecticides,” she says as an example.
“When we are creating our gardens we need to consider the true cost, not just in cash but to the environment. We can’t just greenwash all of these issues.”
She advises gardeners to think about their actions. She’s a keen advocate of the ‘No mow May’ movement. She also discourages impulsive garden centre purchases - a crime she admits to being guilty of herself often in the past - instead suggesting properly planning what would work best for each and every garden space to prevent waste.
“You have to think of yourself as a custodian of the garden and ask yourself, have you robbed more of nature’s resources than you are putting in to make a garden for now.
“We need to be constantly environmentally sensitive in our goals.” She says she will also carefully consider putting together any more show gardens in the future.
“I love the big garden shows and in 2016 my own show garden was about climate change and I think raising awareness, even through gardens, is really important.
“I did do a garden in 2021 but I was a bit reticent as I’m concerned about the waste so I made sure as much as possible of the garden was relocated and reused.
“These gardens shouldn’t just be vanity projects for garden designers. I like the double whammy of inspiring people but also imparting a valuable message but I need to be backing that up with my own actions.”
Her tv work has included many Garden Rescue shows, transforming people’s outdoor spaces and ultimately their lives. For those shows she says she was always very mindful that she was working in people’s private gardens and the need to be empathetic to why it was important to them.
It was an episode of DIY SOS which she guested on which really touched her though. The garden belonged to a lady whose husband and daughter had both died in tragic circumstances in the vicinity of her garden.
“She was obviously very traumatised by events but to deliver a garden that she loved and could then use again showed to me the healing power of gardens and not just their aesthetic value. That was one of the most rewarding gardens I have ever worked on. It was hugely humbling.”
Arit has stepped away from Garden Rescue for now but continues as a presenter for the hugely popular Gardener’s World. The second series of her popular podcast Growing Greener is also about to start. In the eight part series Arit will be speaking to more gardening and environmental experts to get their thoughts and advice on more sustainable gardening practices.
She continues her work as the RHS Ambassador for Climate Change and the Community and is in the early stages of setting up a Sustainable Lifestyle Foundation alongside still running her garden design business Diamond Hill Garden Design.
For a gardener, Arit sure doesn’t like to let the grass grow under her feet.
For details of the Malvern Autumn Show, visit
www.malvernautumn.co.uk
To contact Diamond Hill Garden Design, visit
www.aritanderson.com
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM 119
CE L EBRIT Y INTERVI EW ARI T ANDERSON
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