Over Easter we launched our new Garden Design service and we’re so excited to see this long-envisioned dream gaining ground (pun intended). Regather’s Garden Design service brings ecological planting and practical approaches to food production together. Whether you’re thinking of growing your own vegetables, planting fruit trees, building a pond or making a meadow, we can show you how to combine the elements that create a vibrant and biodiverse garden or green space. The face of this new service is Fran Halsall, gardening enthusiast with extensive experience working with native species, edible plants and naturally encouraging biodiversity. She is on a mission to help Sheffield’s gardeners maximise their space for attracting wildlife and growing food.
Contact Fran through the Garden Design service page to find out more about how she could help you, your community group or school.
Fran Halsall: An Obsession with Useful Plants
To say that Fran is obsessed with plants is a slight understatement. She’s been gardening since age ten, beginning with a herb patch that ignited her interest in ‘useful’ plants. Training as an artist led Fran to a career in landscape photography, where she learned about different habitats and plants across the British Isles. It was a passion for both nature and design that led Fran to study for an MA in Landscape Architecture at The University of Sheffield. Here she specialised in ecological design and landscape management, meaning that she is capable of working at all scales: from back gardens to public parks.
Fran with one of her prized home-grown Crown Prince squash.
In 2020 Fran set up two food growing projects; the first being the Kenwood Community Growers in April, followed up by the Food Works farm in July, both producing crops for the organisation’s community kitchens. Fran has also designed numerous private gardens around Sheffield, advising on growing for the home kitchen as well as planting that provides year-round food sources and homes for wildlife.
Her own garden, now 15 years old, mixes food crops with wildlife planting and, although small, it is teeming with birds and insects. The design is a modern twist on the classic cottage garden, featuring many native plant species and others from further afield chosen for their habitat or pollinator value.
With knowledge of tree care, safety in public settings and general planning issues, by hiring Fran to work on your project you can be assured that you will get down-to-earth evidence-based advice that is tailored to your needs.
Need a wildlife pond design? Creating a school food garden? Whatever your garden project requires, feel free to get in touch for advice.
