CWGC work recognised by Horticulture Week

Andrew’s work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has been recognised by Horticulture Week. Here is an extract from their reporting on the project.

‘ “As an organisation we’re over 100 years old,” says David Richardson, director of horticulture [for the CWGC]. “Now we’re looking to the next 100 years.” The organisation is adopting a right ecosystem/right plant/right place approach to meet this future.

But how do you assess and reimagine the planting across 50 countries? You turn to the advice of prominent modern

professional gardener and designer and director and cofounder of London College of Garden Design Andrew Fisher

Tomlin, of course. “The planting has served the sites well for a very long time,” says Fisher Tomlin. “But times are

changing, the climate is changing, and there is an objective to be even more biodiverse.”

Together with Adam Blunt, Fisher Tomlin has worked to create a virtual training programme that not only educates

individuals within the organisation but empowers them to make resilient, biodiverse and imaginative decisions about

individual sites. “CWGC is basically the largest horticultural organisation in the world. There is no way that I can advise

them on every site,” explains Fisher Tomlin. “So we decided to give them the tools they needed so they could suggest

changes and updates to the planting.” Richardson expands, “We can give a framework for people to work in in terms of

policy and structure. But you really want intelligent, thoughtful, intentional changes to sites at the local level.” ‘

Image Andrew with CWGC Horticulture Manager for France Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Words Horticulture Week