Selected press

“Africa Vision Malawi has presented a garden for the future at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show”. John J. Cole-Morgan The South African, 2015

“When one looks through the portholes of the metal box though, the images are breath taking. Inside the metal box the images show the never ended fields of corn created by the mirrors on the edge of the box. A notion of what might be possible if permaculture farming is maintained and used regularly Evans hopes to change the way farming is carried out in Malawi and prove to the people of Malawi new ways might be able to help sustain their people for many years to come”. Article link

“Chelsea Flower Show medal-winning bee garden installed on campus”. Sian Honnor, Middlesex University, 2018

“Social enterprise River of Flowers’ Honeycomb Meadow Bee Garden, co-designed by Kerrie McKinnon and Gaby Evans of Studio Supernatural, features 30 pollinator-friendly wildflower types. The bee garden won a silver medal at Chelsea in May, where it was visited by Joanna Lumley, Piers Morgan, Dermot O’Leary, Simple Minds singer Sarah Brown, gardening journalist Alys Fowler and artist, entrepreneur and Bee Lovely campaigner Sam Roddick. “This garden is a celebration of all that is humble and often looked over” said Roddick. “If we have happy bees we then have the potential of a happy life. They are busy pollinating for us - gifting us food, health, beauty and delighting our senses”. Article link

“I’ve chosen to talk about the African Vision Garden, because it shows plant science in a truly cool way”. James Wong, BBC Gardeners World, 2015

‘Green: Simple ideas for small outdoor spaces’. Ula Maria, Green. Octopus publishing, 2020

“The key to creating a charming vintage look is layering, and this London garden by Gabrielle Shay has it down to a tee. Planting has been gradually added, resulting in a textured tapestry of plants. Similarly the trees surrounding the plot have been used as a green backdrop for antique furniture, creating depth and intrigue ”. Amazon link

Articles

Writing excerpts

‘Lighter touch landscapes’. Pro Landscaper Magazine, Gabrielle Shay, November, 2023

Moreover, the rush towards speed comes at a cultural cost. Craft, whether in plant cultivation or material creation, nurtures creativity, imagination, and environmental consciousness. Subcontracting this to the lowest bidder in a rush to meet unrealistic deadlines disregards the practical and enduring skills acquired through craftsmanship, such as a sense of accomplishment, patience, and collaboration. Devaluing the act of slow creation puts these invaluable skills and cultural heritage at risk. Our society's prevailing culture of instant gratification has infiltrated our gardens and landscapes, demanding a shift that appreciates the gradual process and reduces fixation on end goals. For designers, at a domestic scale, this shift could involve increased client involvement, allowing them space to participate within their means. Achieving this requires designers to closely consider the available time and financial resources for long-term development, promoting a more collaborative process.

‘Created by the community’. Pro Landscaper Magazine, Kerrie Mckinnon, December, 2023

Unfortunately, having had previous support from the local councillor, the land was earmarked for construction. The garden was officially closed in 2019. Everything was swiftly removed, leaving the space much how it started; a flat vacant lot of compacted ground, encroached by wildflowers and grasses. Only the mural by artists Gala and Sapphire Hales remained as a fingerprint of what was before – a reminder of the low-impact nature of the garden, but of the endurance of ideas. 

During the garden’s three-year lifespan, its value didn’t come from financial investment or expert planning, but from the collective investment of time, ideas and enjoyment. Lasting memories of this place are valuable, much value can come from minimal intervention. Even a litter pick can change the perception of a space – all interventions matter. An end goal is not required, and no landscape is permanent anyway. 

‘Taking responsibility’. Pro Landscaper Magazine, Gabrielle Shay, January, 2024

Advocating for landscape architects to be involved in long-term garden development from the appointment stage is crucial. This could include maintenance plans that are well-thought-out and identify an 'approach' rather than a fixed treatment. The goal is to create a plan that can be revisited and improved in response to unexpected developments, with the aim of making the landscape more self-sufficient over time. 

This involvement should empower gardeners through collaboration with the design team in the early stages, utilising their maintenance knowledge instead of adopting a one-size-fits-all approach. We should champion the skills and intuition of gardeners, facilitating long-term planting development through their observation and direct experience, whether they live or work in the landscape. 

‘Window box wonders’. Gardeners’ World Magazine, Gabrielle Shay, February, 2022

For me this time of year is time to refresh and reset the garden. By now I’ve reached my threshold for time indoors, so I pick a bright, sunny winter’s day and start with my window boxes which give my home instant curb appeal long after the Christmas decorations have come down. Not only do window boxes give instant satisfaction when putting them together, they can go on to give continued joy when coming home. Much like planning a new border, I consider aspect and maintenance practicalities; equally, I like to use a combination of evergreen plants which provides my arrangement with a central structure, flowering colour for my focal point and fillers for loose texture.PRESS TO