Frank Lawley was born in Bloxwich, Staffordshire. His wife Marjorie was born Marjorie Louisa Tinlin at Wallington in Northumberland. In an attempt to understand something of the essence of Englishness as expressed in the English landscape, they have spent the past four decades rescuing Herterton House near Wallington, a long-abandoned sixteenth century farmhouse, and designing, creating and maintaining around it a new but appropriate country garden.

Andrew Lawson is one of the world’s leading garden photographers: he has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal for Photographers. He is also the author of The Gardener’s Book of Colour.

Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006) was a plantsman in a class of his own, and was widely regarded as ‘the best-informed, liveliest, and most innovative gardening writer of our times’ (Rosemary Alexander, The Guardian). He wrote regularly for newspapers and magazines including The Guardian and Country Life, and was the author of a string of best-selling gardening books. He was created OBE in 2000 and also held the highest award of the Royal Horticultural Society, the Victoria Medal of Honour.

Simon Lycett’s career as a florist took off in 1993 when he was asked to create the flowers for the film Four Weddings and A Funeral. His celebrity clients include Sir Elton John, Sir Ringo Starr and Thandie Newton. He created the wedding decorations for Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Windsor Castle, David and Victoria Beckham, Viscount and Viscountess Weymouth, Cheryl Cole, and most recently for the wedding reception of Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. He frequently works for the RHS and creates the royal posies for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and has provided flowers for many royal occasions. He appears regularly on TV and radio.

Simon heads up a team of 11 at his Camberwell Studios. Most designs are created within the company’s workrooms and transported to the venue. Simon’s work is much in demand for every type of event from stunning yet modest parties to magical weddings the world over, as well as TV, commercials, radio, films and premieres.

Hilary Macaskill is a journalist and travel writer. She is the author of Downhill All the Way, Virginia Woolf at Home, Charles Dickens at Home, Daphne du Maurier at Home and Agatha Christie at Home. She lives in London.

TJ Maher was born in Tipperary. He is an artist who lives in County Wicklow. His garden, Patthana, which is open to the public, is a unique creation combining horticultural and artistic disciplines. TJ is interested in Buddhist principles. Through his garden he finds connection with himself and with nature, which has been his love since childhood.

Marianne Majerus is a regular contributor to many national and international publications, including House and Garden, Gardens Illustrated, Country Life, Homes and Gardens, Country Homes and Interiors, The Garden, English Garden, The Times, Guardian, and Daily Telegraph.  Her photographs have featured in over 200 books. In 2010 the British Garden Media Guild named her International Garden Photographer of the Year, in 2011 Garden Photographer of the Year and in 2013 Features Photographer of the Year.