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That’s Not My Age Podcast: Garden designer and TV presenter Arit Anderson

— by Alyson Walsh

Photo courtesy of Arit Anderson

 

 

My guest on today’s podcast is the wonderful garden designer, writer and TV presenter, Arit Anderson. Who I’m sure you recognise from BBC Gardener’s World  and Garden Rescue. The 52-year-old grew up in North London and worked in fashion for 25 years before discovering horticulture in her mid-40s. It was moving from a flat into a new house with a garden that, er, sowed the seeds of a new career; and while continuing as a freelance consultant, she studied for a diploma in garden design at Capel Manor a specialist environmental college. Swiftly going on to win several awards, including one at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013, and a Gold Medal for her conceptual garden highlighting the impact of climate change, at RHS Hampton Court in 2016. Today, as well as broadcasting, writing and investigating ways to make landscaping more eco-friendly, she runs her own successful garden design practice.

In this podcast, Arit Anderson explains her career trajectory from fashion retail and events, to finding happiness in horticulture. We talk about how being in nature can restore our mental health, what makes a good garden and what she’s doing to stay positive during the pandemic (clue: it’s much more adventurous than making marmalade). Now that we’re recording the podcast using an app, I don’t actually meet, or even see, the guests – which can feel a bit awkward at times – but it has to be said that Arit was warm and friendly and an absolute dream to chat to. I’m hoping that when all this is over, we’ll be able to meet up IRL and I can pick her brains about my balcony. In the meantime, I’ve offered to email her a photo…

 

 

Inspired by Arit Anderson:

In a feature called ‘From Prada to Peonies’ for the Garden Museum website, Arit discusses glamour in the garden and her love of ‘Hort Couture.’ She’s currently reading Dare to be Great and Eradicating Ecocide by Polly Higgins. She wears Lisa Taylor recycled and upcycled dresses and MAC Viva Glam lipstick. And I’m sure you’re going to love this episode.

 

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PODCAST LINKS

Listen to the podcast on Spotify HERE

Listen to Apple Podcasts HERE

Please, please rate, review and subscribe, to help more listeners to find the podcast.

We’re also on Stitcher, Podtail, Poddtoppen, and Google Podcasts.

The That’s Not My Age podcast is now recorded using a web-based application on my computer due to Covid-19 restrictions.

 

PODCAST CREDITS

Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi

Host: Alyson Walsh

Guest: Arit Anderson

Music: David Schweitzer

Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi

Coordinator: Helen Johnson

 

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    My guest on today’s podcast is the wonderful garden designer, writer and TV presenter, Arit Anderson. Who I’m sure you recognise from BBC Gardener’s World  and Garden …