A grassroots approach is what really underpins everything that we do at Loam…
Large or small, rural or urban, experience has taught us that creating a great garden is all about creating a “sense of place”. Taking into account the site, the surrounding landscape and, most importantly, the client’s needs and vision, sees us regard every project we are entrusted with as unique. Whether it be ongoing maintenance work or landscaping design plans, no two gardens are the same and each is ever changing. That’s why we always aspire to build long term relationships with clients and their gardens.
Keith Simm (Garden Designer & Consultant)
“With now over 20 years of experience, my gardening journey began as a youngster living in the suburbs, forever outside messing about in the claggy soil. A growing appreciation for the great outdoors and the changing seasons saw me follow a horticultural path, studying for a diploma at Sparsholt College, Winchester. Alongside my studies, working at a local wholesale herbaceous nursery meant I could hone my plant knowledge further, and my subsequent career path helped me develop an understanding into the methodology of creating really great gardens. At the long-established Hampshire based design company Taylor & Tripp, I fed my passion for plants and grew my garden design expertise. I was appointed Maintenance Manager of a portfolio of private estates and gardens across Hampshire and also earned a place exhibiting a small garden design at Chelsea Flower Show, which went on to win ‘Best in Category’. Life then took me to London – working for Ginko Landscapes in design and management. It was here that I really came to understand the importance of outdoor spaces and relished in the diverse challenges that small city gardens posed. Now I live in the beautiful village of Whitchurch, heading up the Loam Gardens team and spending the rest of the time with my family.”
Simeon Hay (landscape Manager)
“I started in the construction industry two decades ago as a ground worker dealing with drainage and irrigation, so I had a very early introduction to heavy duty construction machinery. I then moved on in the building trade, taking up an apprentice carpentry position in the early noughties. Alongside my construction career, I’ve been lucky enough to lead another life as a fly fishing guide and river keeper, experiencing teeming local Hampshire chalkstreams, Scottish salmon rivers, the Patagonian sea trout rivers of Argentina and chasing bonefish in warm tropical waters. In 2007 I moved to Ireland to manage a sporting estate in County Donegal owned by a famous celebrity music artist and then after 8 years on the Emerald Isle, I came back to Winchester to pick up the tools again. After a 2 year stint as a property developer I’ve now become a fully fledged ‘Loam Ranger’. The outdoors is my favourite place to be and I firmly believe plenty of fresh air is the recipe for good health. That and spending plenty of time with my two hounds, Robert and Luigi, bouncy springer spaniels who love to help out whenever they can.”
Dom Quincey (Maintenance Manager)
“I’m the newest member of the team and probably have the most eclectic CV. My first career as a hairdresser lasted a good ten years and, combining practical skills, creative flair and an ability to chat to pretty much anybody about anything, it was a lot of fun. After a decade however it seemed to be time for a big change, so I enrolled on a teacher training course, using the practical skills I had under my belt to come up with lesson plans to engage and inspire. Having been pretty disenchanted with school as a kid myself, I felt I had a pretty clear idea of what makes a decent teacher. A few years in the classroom followed but all the while I threw myself into gardening, finding an undiscovered passion for plants, growing veg and building brilliant garden features. Under the eagle eye of Keith, I’ve developed my horticultural skillset and now use that, my teacherly organisational skills and my well honed client focus within team Loam… and my hairdressing skills come in pretty handy when it comes to taming overgrown gardens too.”
“Keith has been helping me with my garden, which houses the National Collection of Clematis Montana Group, for 6-8 days a year since 2011. He is an exceedingly talented, pleasant young man, reliable, competent, honest and hard working. He has transformed the garden with his tweaking and stylising. He has a superb design eye. I recommend him with confidence.”