Tom Petherick: The Organic Path

Petherick Urquhart & Hunt

I collaborate with Adam Hunt and Lulu Urquhart on a number of different projects. Currently we are working on our second garden for The Prince of Wales’s Sustainable Festival 'START' from 25-31 July 2011 at Clarence House in London. This is the show's second year. Last year we produced a ‘Future Cities Garden' and are following it up this year with a 'Forest Garden'.

Dutchy Of Cornwall Nursery

Petherick, Urquhart and Hunt have just completed phase 1 of the re-design and landscaping of the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery at Lostwithiel in Cornwall. Working in conjunction with Annabel Elliot, who has designed and fitted the new shop, we have further work to do in trying to aid the nursery in becoming more of a 'public face' of the Duchy of Cornwall. The next phase is to continue the theme of sustainability that runs through the site in terms of composting and forging closer links with the local community.

The Prince's Trust Foundation for the Built Environment

Petherick Urquhart and Hunt have been involved with the Foundation in a horticultural advisory role. We assisted in a setting up and judging a garden design competition for horticultural students at the Ideal Homes Exhibition at Earl's Court in the spring of 2011.

Walled Kitchen Garden Network

I am a founder member of the network having spent much of my career working in and around them. The network offers advice on restoration and all aspects of cultivation in these wonderful spaces.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

I spent six years in 'the nation's favourite garden' in two three-year spells. I wrote two books about it, both photographed by my wife Melanie Eclare. My family home is less than five miles from the garden. My grandfather convalesced there after the First World War Battle of Gallipoli in 1915. In short Heligan was a massive influence on my life.

Biodynamic Association

I joined the biodynamic certification body Demeter in 2009 as a farm inspector. I inspect both biodynamic and organic farms for compliance to standards and in the course of the work get to see some fantastically well-run organic and biodynamic farms and horticultural units. It is highly rewarding work although I don’t get to inspect my own farm, even though it is biodynamically certified.

Lowther Castle & Gardens

I have been acting as a consultant on the restoration of Lowther Castle for several years. This is one of the country’s most important horticultural restorations based around the ruin of Smirke’s extraordinary castle that sits in rolling parkland in Cumbria.

Agroforestry Research Trust

We are incredibly grateful for the help that Martin Crawford has provided for our Forest Garden at the START Sustainable Festival at Clarence House in 2011. Martin has been a champion of the genre and his own Forest Garden at Dartington in Devon is the model from which most others in the UK and beyond take their influence. His book Forest Gardening is published by Green Books.

Hawthorn Press

"Books for a creative, peaceful and sustainable world". Hawthorn's vision is to contribute to a more creative, peaceful and sustainable world through our book publishing.