Flo Headlam, a passionate gardener from south London, carved out an unconventional path into horticulture after a fulfilling two-decade career in charitable organizations and a prior life as a dancer. She began her formal gardening education at Capel Manor College in 2012, quickly immersing herself in both general horticultural studies and garden design. By 2017, she had transformed her passion into a thriving profession, known for her innovative designs and her commitment to community gardening initiatives. The whimsy of her career shift might strike one as bold, yet it seems to embody a genuine yearning for connection—with nature and with people.

In her own words, gardening brings people together, fostering community through shared labor and love for the earth. She often reminisces about the rustic beauty of local gardens cultivated over decades. There’s a particular charm in one near her home, crammed with a lovely mix of shrubs and overlooked perennials, a space that feels more alive with the laughter of children and the wagging tails of dogs than any manicured estate. It’s this accessibility—that gardens can bridge gaps and nurture not just plants but relationships—that captivates Flo.

With diverse inspirations ranging from Anish Kapoor’s art to the simple pleasures of homegrown tomatoes, her ideas flow like the plants she nurtures. She prefers low-maintenance solutions, acknowledging that most clients echo the sentiment that gardens should enhance life without demanding too much of it. Yet, she hesitates at times, caught between ambitions of grandeur and the practicalities of the everyday gardener.

Flo’s contributions extend beyond her gardens. As an Equity Ambassador for The British Association of Landscape Industries, she fights for inclusivity in the gardening world, making it a platform for everyone. The reality of her journey is a mix of hard work, imagination, and a little bit of serendipity—where each garden tells a story, intertwined with her own.