Researcher and writer in garden history and designed landscapes
If you cannot find the information you need then please e-mail me with any queries twigsway@me.com.
Researcher and Writer:
I am fascinated by the past and intrigued by the role of flowers, gardens and landscape in art and culture of all kinds. My research reflects that endless curiosity and my books on plants and gardens explore themes of symbolism and meaning, class and gender, art and literature . . and the desire to follow unknown paths towards the unexpected. From gnomes in Neasden to holyhocks from the Holy Land every plant has a tale to tell, every garden a past.
Rachel Ruysch 1716 Still Life with Flowers on a Marble Table Top (Rijksmuseum Open Access)
Arts Society
I am an accredited and experienced Arts Society Speaker with a range of highly illustrated talks designed to enlighten and engage the audience. My focus includes artist’s gardens including the Impressionists, 18th and 19th century female botanical artists including Mary Delany and Marianne North, garden makers and travellers, and the art and culture of specific flowers including the divine golden Sunflower.
My history of the Chrysanthemum in Art and Culture was published October 2020 (Reaktion Books).
For more information on my Arts Society talks see the specific page for these .
Speaker for Garden and History Societies
There is nothing I enjoy more than talking about my favourite subjects including garden history, allotment history, women and gardens, art and gardens, and of course the themes of my books such as the history of the allotment, the suburban garden from the Romans to the 21st century or the chrysanthemum in art and culture.
I have recently developed talks on Traditional Wildflower Names and Traditional Garden Flower Names and also a talk of Poisons in the Borders, Death in the Beds.
Choose this link to learn more about the talks which I have developed specifically for garden clubs, many of which are also suited to history societies.
Evacuees go out to garden on wartime allotments from ‘Digging for Victory: The Wartime Garden’ by Twigs Way and Mike Brown 2010
Consultant (retired)
My background is in consultancy and research projects on historic gardens and designed landscapes of all periods and sizes. These included production of Parkland Management Plans (PMP), Conservation Plans (CP) and Heritage Statements as well as undertaking specific research targeted projects for public and private clients. I also worked with a volunteer group in Essex to document historic parks and gardens in the area of Southend, having completed a similar project in Thurrock. I have now retired from consultancy.
Surveying in Thorndon Park, Essex as part of a Parkland Management Plan