Q&A with Edmund Colville, founder of West Lexham
Edmund Colville founded West Lexham retreat center for healing and rebalancing in rural Norfolk in 2011.
He trained as an artist and garden designer and latterly as a healer. The site is a hidden gem which invites contemplation.
The grounds are varied with banks of wildflowers, a Japanese garden, bonsai, standing stones, examples of indigenous tree in Britain, and a functioning biodynamic kitchen garden.
Edmund, what do you think about your namesake parasols?
And what are your top 3 pointers when creating a welcoming garden?
A good balance of light and shade, a good balance of open and enclosed space- you want two thirds open space and sunlight and one third shade and enclosed by trees, bushes, a pergola or parasol. Make sure the textures are soft and work with each other, for example conifers and spiky but long, soft, fluffy grasses are inviting.
What’s your advice for someone with a smaller, urban garden?
What is the use of the garden? Fill the space with different height features to suit the use. High level are trees or topiary, mid level is long grasses and herbaceous planting, low level is grass and paving.
What’s the quickest, most effective way to change a garden?
Get a parasol (I didn’t make him say that). Parasols create colour and create enclosed, usable space.
(Top Left) Marigold Round Bamboo Parasol
(Bottom Right) Daphne Octagonal Parasol
What is your current garden obsession?
Alpine plants. I have been filling giant tanks full of stones and planting spreading alpines on top so people can view their microdetail.
Which is your favourite garden to visit?
The alpine garden at Kew, London.
