1. Town or Country? Country
2. Can you name your three essentials – what don’t you leave the house (or studio) without? Good underwear, retractable pencil (.5mm) and A5 notebook (plain pages)
3. If someone could only make one change to elevate their outdoor space what would you tell them to do? add water – it’s incredible how much life water attracts, its acoustics are transportive and its reflections mesmerising.
4. Colour, scent or texture – what word resonates with you the most? I don’t think I can separate them – poetry is that balance of all three.
5. Outside influences – do you ever take inspiration from other creative fields like fashion, music or art? My biggest influence is the natural world and my careful observation of the unfolding of each season. Thomas Mawson, Russell Page and Arne Maynard have also been big influences. I am inspired by the various craftsmen I meet – drystone wallers, blacksmiths, sculptors. Music is also important – when I am wrestling a design and trying to find that moment of calm, I will often listen to classical music – I listen to a lot of folk music as well.
6. What turns a beautiful garden into an unforgettable one? Spirit and playfulness – good gardens become great when there is a creative team willing to engage in a constant dialogue with the space. I find that confidence emerges once mistakes have been made, storms have been weathered and the realisation dawns that the garden is a living process – they are in constant flux. It is this, ‘living, breathing’ energy that has the power to transport the visitor.
7. Do you have a signature plant you return to again and again? Hawthorn, Yew, Bramley Apples, Crab Apples, Rosa Glauca, Iris ‘Jane Phillips’, Rosemary, Lavender
8. Are there any current design trends that you are particularly excited by? Are there any you would like to see stop? I try to avoid trends and ignore the Instagram bubble. I really appreciate the role ecology now plays in garden design and believe a more intimate relationship with the land can lead to more beautiful gardens. Ecology provides a useful framework to understand nature as a process, a dynamic web of relationships where each part contributes to the whole; this thinking has led to an amazing evolution in planting design which feels really positive.
9. Out of all your projects, are there any that still make you smile? I have a disease whereby I can only focus on the shortcomings of any project – my eye is drawn to the problems, rather than the successes – but I have a real fondness for Knoyle Place. It was my first proper project, I poured my heart and soul into the design, learnt so much during the building phase (especially about landscaping and soil prep) and had a very demanding but inspired client who has become a real hero of mine.
10. What makes a property a Blue Book property? A Blue Book Property is ‘quintessentially English’ with good proportions, class, and a touch of romance.
To see more of Dan’s work, visit his website or Instagram (@danielcombesgardendesign)
