Xiaowei Zou

Gardener & Designer & Landscaper

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Design
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My own path into gardening has been a weaving together of different places and disciplines. I began my career as an architect, working at Open Architecture in Beijing and contributing to projects including the TankShanghai Gallery and Shanghai Qingpu International School. I have also received awards for my designs, with my paintings and design work exhibited in various places. I later studied Geography and Anthropology at UCL, before gradually moving towards horticulture while living near Walworth Garden in London. Since then, I have gained a Diploma in Practical Horticultural Skills from Walworth Garden and a Diploma in Garden Design from Capel Manor College.

Today, I work as a gardener and garden designer, caring for private gardens as well as contributing to community gardens through workshops and collaborative projects.

I design and take care of gardens by listening to both places and people. I care about sustainability and ecology. I see a garden as a place for beauty, love, joy and connection; a place for encounters, meetings and learning.

In Taoism, there is the idea of 道法自然 — following the way of nature. This summarises my way of working as a gardener and designer.