‘I am in awe of what Sarah Wain & Jim Buckland have achieved at West Dean and this superb book is a testament to inspired, uncompromising horticulture at its very best.’ Monty Don
At West Dean The creation of an exemplary garden
By Jim Buckland & Sarah Wain
Photography by Andrea Jones White Lion Publishing | 4th October 2018
West Dean Gardens in West Sussex is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today. At West Dean is the first book to comprehensively document this extensive and unique project; a celebration of the gardening excellence and love affair with planting that Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain have established at West Dean over a 25-year period.
While West Dean’s expansive site is the starting point, At West Dean highlights the persistence, skill and creativity that make for a successful garden in any set of circumstances, providing inspiration and sound advice for all gardeners and setting a sublime standard to aspire to; it is a joyful reminder of the infinite rewards to be gained from a hard day’s work in the garden.
Richly illustrated by award-winning garden photographer Andrea Jones, the glories of West Dean through the seasons are shown to their full extent, mingled with shots of gardeners at work pruning, tying, mowing, raking, labelling, washing pots, stacking canes. The results of their labours are defined by horticultural rigour and contemporary efficiencies set against a Victorian backdrop.
Super-tidy sheds, meticulously cared for glasshouses, a biomass boiler and steaming compost heaps are the engine that drive the garden forward but these would be nothing without the artistic vision and thoughtful philosophy that Jim and Sarah bring to this exemplary garden, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. At West Dean will excite visitors and armchair readers
JIM BUCKLAND graduated with honours from the world-famous Diploma in Horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. He managed historic public gardens in both Australia and the UK before arriving at West Dean Gardens as gardens manager in 1991. He is a trustee of the Professional Gardeners’ Trust and was awarded the RHS Associate of Honour for distinguished service to horticulture in his professional working life. Jim’s role at the gardens is multi- faceted but he has a passion for the St Roche’s Arboretum which he has reimagined as a tranquil haven of wildflower glades while introducing new tree and shrub planting and applying careful custodianship of its extensive mature tree collection. He has lectured both in the UK and abroad and is a regular contributor to magazines.
SARAH WAIN gained a Diploma in Horticultural Science Australia and then worked in the temperate department at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew for three years. She managed a local council nursery and the gardens at Burnley Horticultural College in Australia before joining West Dean Gardens as gardens supervisor in 1991. Sarah is a member of the RHS Vegetable Trials Forum and is a recipient of the Professional Gardeners’ Guild ‘Loyal and Outstanding Service Award’ and the Institute of Horticulture Award. Sarah is a horticultural polymath and is, among other things, the brains behind West Dean’s wide range of glasshouse crops including ferns, exotic ornamentals, chillies and tomatoes. Sarah regularly writes for blogs and publications as well as presenting gardening talks to audiences at West Dean.
WEST DEAN GARDENS at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation is nestled at the foot of the South Downs, West Sussex and is one of the greatest restored gardens open to the public today. Visitors can explore a wide range of historic features on a gentle walk around the grounds. From surreal trees to the restored walled garden, West Dean Gardens proudly presents its rich creative and social heritage. www.westdeangardens.org.uk
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