The plot in Saltaire has been lovingly transformed by Kamal Kaan (Hussain), who painstakingly created a colourful, vibrant garden beside his character cottage.
The design and colour scheme is inspired by the painting ‘Garden’ (2015) by David Hockney, resulting in an eye-catching display that is admired by passers-by.
Last year Kamal, a writer and actor, was one of six finalists in the magazine’s Gardens of the Year competition. which drew hundreds of entries.
Kamal in his award-winning garden
There’s so much colour to attract pollinators
In November the Judges’ Choice Award was given to Simon Richards of Kent, for his drought-tolerant gravel garden with prairie-style planting.
Then it was up to the public to vote for the People’s Choice Award for Gardener’s World – Garden of the Year.
Kamal’s garden came out top.
The garden is beside the canal
He said: “I was speechless when Sonya from Gardeners’ World announced this week that I had won.
“I genuinely thought I wouldn’t stand a chance: I had the smallest garden, the only one from Yorkshire and I was the youngest, least experienced gardener.
“What filled my heart, is that everyone got behind the vote; friends, family, colleagues, friends of friends – it really felt like people wanted to support the garden.
“The award is fitting as it is a very public garden in its nature and when people walk past they stop, have a look, and comment – so it really feels like a shared garden that others get to enjoy, smell and adore.
“Thank you to everyone who voted – I couldn’t have done it without you. Go Bradford!”
The garden is inspired by David Hockney’s painting ‘Garden’
The garden design and colour scheme is inspired by the painting ‘Garden’ (2015) by David Hockney.
Kamal added: “The garden echoes his love of line and colour: in the giant dahlias, in the verbena, in the way the clematis coils around the fence.
“It’s not careless, but unashamedly joyful, just like Hockney’s masterful paintings.
“Crucially, the garden invites nature in: passing pollinators attracted by the hues of lilacs, mauves and amethyst – the colour of seduction for pollinators.
“Bees, hoverflies, moths and butterflies, a nest for them to rest their wings and soak themselves in pollen and delectable nectar.”
Kamal gets to work, preparing the ground for the next season
Kamal’s interest in horticulture and his work as a writer are influencing each other.
“I am taking the energy of this win into my next commission which is a two-part BBC Radio 4 drama called ‘Trimerous : A Tale of Three Heroines’ – about Gertrude Jekyll, Ellen Willmott and Beatrix Potter,” he said.
“Three female gardeners who changed the landscape of horticulture and garden design during the 19th century, but didn’t get the recognition that they deserved during that time.
“The two-part drama will be broadcast during the Chelsea Flower Show week, in May.”
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