Patrick Bogue
Taking time out from my work as a Psychiatrist to do the Garden Design diploma was a chance to rekindle a creative side that had been on the back burner for years. The course gave me space to explore the subject material in depth and reminded me how much I enjoy making things and thinking in new ways.
I’ve been inspired by incredible gardens like Great Dixter and the people who care for them, and I’m always on the lookout to learn more about what makes a good garden. Care for our natural environment is an idea I keep coming back to in my life. This consideration has very much shaped my approach to gardening.
In my role as an NHS doctor I work with people experiencing psychosis. Ideas from psychoanalysis have given me a fresh perspective on how cultivated spaces can bring people back into feeling valued and connected, both with ourselves and the world around us. Likewise, marginal elements of the garden are also vital for our ecosystem to thrive, and countercultural elements of design are more often than not, the best part.
Green spaces matter. They should inspire us, ground us, and remind us we’re part of something bigger. In 2025, I’ll be returning to train with the Maudsley Institute of Psychiatry, bringing with me a strengthened appreciation for gardens and their role in our lives. I’m keen to connect with others who share these common interests, because gardens are by their very nature; healing spaces.
