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Reader event: The art of the country house garden at Daylesford
What are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? At this Country Life event, five leading experts will share their wisdom on achieving pleasing good looks, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, manageable maintenance and how to make a garden your own.
On Thursday, July 2, Chelsea Gold Medallist Charlotte Harris, architect Tom Turner, lighting expert David Gray of Corston, eighth-generation builder Tim Moulding and renowned sculptor Hamish Mackie will join Country Life’s Giles Kime to discuss the country garden.
The Art of the Country House Garden
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
Time: 11am–2pm
Where: Daylesford, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 0YG
Tickets :£65, to include a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.
To book: Telephone 01608 692871 or visit the event page at the Daylesford website.
How can it complement a house, enhancing its outlook and extending its usable space? What’s the secret to creating hard landscaping? How can gardens and sculpture be illuminated? How do you ensure it works for you, rather than vice versa? Where is it best to focus energy and resources for the most effect? What are the best materials to complement a country setting?
The panellists’ breadth and depth of knowledge is exceptional, from award-winning garden design and architecture to lighting, sculpture and years of experience in breathing new life into old houses and building from scratch so they sit happily in their surroundings.
The event will take place at the magnificent Heritage Barn at Daylesford and will include lunch on its terrace, and there will be an opportunity to meet the panellists and seek individual advice.
To book, telephone 01608 692871 or visit The Art of the Country House Garden page at the Daylesford website.
Meet the panellists
From left to right: Tom Turner, Hamish Mackie, David Gray, Charlotte Harris and Tim Moulding
Tom Turner founded his Sussex practice in 2016, drawn back to the country- side that shaped his early love of vernacular buildings. His work is rooted in a deep respect for the evolution of the English house, paired with a clear understanding of how people live today — creating homes that feel of their place and endure for generations.
Hamish Mackie is a leading British contemporary sculptor renowned for his dynamic wildlife pieces. Inspired by the natural world, he creates powerful contemporary interpretations that unite rigorous anatomical understanding with expressive surface treatment, resulting in sculptures rich in movement and character.
David Gray is the co-founder of Corston Architectural Detail, where his passion for thoughtful design and innovation shapes every product the brand creates. He is driven to develop products that combine timeless aesthetics with practical performance.
Charlotte Harris is the co-founder of Harris Bugg Studio. The practice is known for thoughtful, Nature-led landscapes. Commissions range from private country estates and city gardens to the Barbican Conservatory and the Centenary Garden for the National Trust for Scotland. Together with Hugo Bugg, she has won three RHS Chelsea Gold Medals and Best in Show.
Tim Moulding is the eighth-generation managing director of one of the South’s leading building companies, specialising in historic buildings and high-end country- house new build and restoration.
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