Hamish Mackie discusses The Art of the Country House Garden

The Art of the Country House Garden
July 10, 2026

I was privileged to be invited by Country Life magazine to take part in a reader event at the beginning of July. It was a wonderful sunny day when I made my way to the newly-restored Heritage Barn at Daylesford in the Cotswolds.

The other panellists were Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist Charlotte Harris, architect Tom Turner, lighting expert David Gray of Corston, eighth-generation builder Tim Moulding. We were there to discuss The Art of the Country House Garden, lead by Giles Kime, editor of Country Life Magazine.

So what are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? We talked about achieving a pleasing design, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, managing maintenance and how to make a garden your own.

The discussion ranged from subjects like how a garden can complement a house, to the best materials to use in a country setting. We talked about enhancing your garden’s outlook, extending its usable space, and the secret to creating hard landscaping. We considered the best way to illuminate gardens, and where to focus energy and resources for most effect.

I really enjoyed seeing my work placed strategically around the venue. It was good to see people getting up close to the sculptures and maybe thinking about the placement of art in their own homes and gardens.

The lively discussion was followed by a delicious lunch on the terrace from the Daylesford kitchen.

Thank you to Daylesford and of course the Country Life Magazine team for a really great day.

You can see more about this event in my video below.

(All photos on this page by Lucy Davenport)

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