PEOPLE
STEVE GOULDS
CLAUDIA DE YONG
K E N N Y R AY B O U L D
Key project manager, London Stone
Garden designer, Claudia de Yong Designs
Horticultural manager/head gardener, Incentive FM/Covent Garden
www.londonstone.co.uk
www.claudiadeyongdesigns.com
www.coventgarden.london
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? It would probably be something in sport. Coaching, playing, selling equipment – anything really!
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? I think I would be either a school teacher or working in retail, of which I have experience of both.
If you weren’t in the horticulture industry, what would you be doing? Probably an architect. Buildings inspire me massively in what I do.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Italy – my favourite country in the world.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? I love Mediterranean countries and their rugged arid landscapes. I marvel at how plants can thrive in dry soils.
What would you blow your budget on? A house in Italy. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Chris Collins. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Apprenticeships, across all aspects of the industry. Best piece of trivia you know? There are 10 times more stars in the night sky than there are individual grains of sand on all the world’s deserts and beaches. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Sam Elliot. What three things would you take to a desert island? Family, tennis ball and beer.
What would you blow your budget on? I would blow my budget on mature trees and a lake! The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Someone who I would have loved to have met is Lancelot (Capability) Brown. One thing that you think would make the industry better? A clearer understanding of all the skills involved in this industry. Best piece of trivia you know? It is impossible to lick your own elbow! Who would play you in a movie of your life? I think Sandra Bullock as she could do my silly side.
Other than the UK, which country’s landscape inspires you the most? Places like Morocco and the Moorish gardens, as well as more modern locations like Singapore. What would you blow your budget on? Plants, plants and more plants. I have a real passion for plant collecting. The one person in the industry you’d love to meet? Alan Titchmarsh – I have briefly met him, but I would love to sit over a good cup of tea and talk about plants. One thing that you think would make the industry better? Agreed combined standards. Our industry seems disjointed when it comes to combined targets and achievement. Best piece of trivia you know? The City of London is a ‘city’ within a city, within a country that’s within a country. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Eddie Redmayne.
Your favourite joke? Crime in multi-storey car parks. That’s wrong on so many levels.
What three things would you take to a desert island? My glasses (so I could see, pretty important), a sketchbook and my waders.
What three things would you take to a desert island? A box of veg seeds, a machete and a water bottle.
Karaoke song of choice? Mr Brightside by The Killers.
Karaoke song of choice? I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.
Karaoke song of choice? Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
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Little Interviews.indd 99
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21/01/2020 16:06