Before Lee joined Alaster Anderson in September 2022 he had gained 15 years of head landscaper experience. This often involved creating areas of paths with planting either side or avenues of trees leading up to flower beds with seating areas around – all carefully thought out and positioned to give the best views overlooking the landscape. He has had an affiliation with plants since he grew up planting sunflowers and growing tomatoes, seeing them flourish and trying different ways to get the best results. He has also always enjoyed planting Winter and Summer planters, with his own choice of plants and colour schemes each year.

What is your role at Alaster Anderson?

I assist Florent, the Operations Director, to ensure all jobs are completed on schedule and to a high standard. I'm always on site, making gardens from the ground up. That’s bringing in soil, plants, and trees, building up all the levels, installing the irrigation, and piecing everything together.

Is there a garden that has inspired you?

I was inspired by the garden Alaster Anderson created at Brompton Square, because of the woodland feel, and the way the paths feed you around into different areas beneath the canopy of trees. It's just wild; it's such a nice woodland experience and it’s also full of native plants that I’ve always liked working with.

What is your favourite plant and why?  

I have a soft spot for Digitalis and Campanulas as they flower over the same time of year as my birthday, in July. I love the varied and beautiful colour palette they produce.

What is your favourite project?

Our project in Ealing, as it was the first one I had been fully involved with at the company. To see what the garden looked like before, to how it is looking now with all that we've created as a team, seeing the desired end result and how all the hard work we put in really paid off… I will never forget this one!

What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned at Alaster Anderson?  

The planning, strategy and process of how a garden is conceptualised and created, from the underground works, like the drainage, irrigation, using different soil types, then onto the plants and maintenance, all to get the fantastic results that meet the brief and amaze our clients. I've also learned how working for a really friendly and knowledgeable team/company helps push everyone's standard of work to the highest possible level and achieves the best gardens as a result – with everyone enjoying the process and having huge job satisfaction.

What do you love about your job?

The reward for all the hard work at the end when we see the garden finished: the vision realised and flourishing. Knowing that what we have done from the very bottom ... the soil, to the top ... planting the trees, has all been done to such a high standard. All that we have planted and created will grow and blossom for many, many years to come and bring such enjoyment to those they surround. I also enjoy revisiting projects and seeing the progress of our work as gardens come to completion, then knowing they will keep evolving beautifully as they mature.

You can reach us on 0207 305 7183 or email at enquire@alasteranderson.com