Dionne Sambrook’s garden is a haven for local wildlife but also packs in great visual interest, family space and veg-growing areas
Dionne Sambrook, Warwickshire
PHOTOS JASON INGRAM
“The thing I love about gardening is that it’s the most hopeful, optimistic thing you can do”
Dionne Sambrook, Warwickshire
Before
ILLUSTRATION: NEIL DARBY
Dionne Sambrook’s garden in Warwickshire transforms an empty new-build garden into a wildlife haven. She moved here with her family in 2018, and although it was daunting, she embraced the blank canvas and has created her dream garden. She also uses her garden as a base for a range of work and community projects, growing trees for local forestry projects and seedlings for projects with the charity that she works for.
What was the garden like when you moved in?
It was completely bare, with just some trees, climbers and shrubs – including a beautiful Japanese maple and a wisteria – and a few paving slabs. It was different to any other garden I’d lived in. Previous homes I’d rented were old country cottages with established gardens, whereas this was a new build.
How did you transform the garden?