For decades, Paul Bangay has looked to the great gardens of England as both touchstone and inspiration, their structure and grandeur shaping his own celebrated work. In this intimate new volume, he finally finds a sixteenth-century cottage in the Cotswolds—its weathered stone, ancient stream, and small garden ready for bold reinvention. What follows is the story of a new beginning: reimagining boundaries and axes, planting hedges and perennials, experimenting with structure and softness, and discovering—season by season—what thrives, what falters, and what surprises.
Written in diary form, Diary of an English Garden captures the daily rhythms of building a garden from scratch. Bangay reflects on the differences between English and Australian light, soil, and climate; the discipline of working within centuries-old traditions; and the joy of watching a place evolve. Alongside the garden transformation, Bangay documents the renovation of the cottage itself as well as the gradual process of becoming part of village life.
Rich with observation, wit, and practical insight, Diary of an English Garden is a lyrical homage to England’s gardening heritage. Beautifully illustrated and exquisitely designed, this is Paul Bangay at his most reflective and personal: a master gardener returning to the source of his lifelong inspiration.
Contributors
Paul Bangay
Author
For thirty years, Paul Bangay has been designing classic, elegant, and simple gardens. His clients include a roster of the most prominent figures in business and culture, and his extensive list of projects spans private and public commissions in Australia and New Zealand as well as further afield in Europe, North America, and the West Indies. Bangay’s distinctive approach has been featured in countless publications, and he is a sought-after guest on gardening and lifestyle programs. He is the author of The Defined Garden and Big Garden Design.
Ashlea O’Neill
Illustrated By
Éva Németh
Photographer
