About Us

The Country Gardener was founded by Claire Benbrook, who discovered a passion for gardening eight years ago when she moved to a country house in Essex.

Prior to this move Claire had completed a degree in Retail Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University. She then moved to London and worked as a fashion PR for Marks & Spencer, and agency Phyllis Walters. The long hours and continuous partying involved got too much and she decided a move to the country would be a good idea.

"My new friends and neighbours all seemed to have beautiful gardens, this inspired me to do greater things with the bare land I had. I began to visit famous gardens around the country, read books, and took a Diploma in Garden Design at Writtle College. All the time I was planning different projects for my garden, and beginning to put these plans into action."

The gardens are really taking shape now, although there is still much to do. Projects have included a white garden, pool garden, woodland, laburnum walk, formal parterre, huge mixed borders circling a carriage driveway, and a walled kitchen garden.

After eight years Claire has tried and tested many products, plants and books. The products on the site are all carefully chosen by her, and are the ones she can't be without, as well as some which are simply beautiful. There are gifts which she would be delighted to give or receive herself, as well as a children's department, as she believes that children should grow up seeing gardening as part of everyday life. They should be taught that food can be grown at home, and will be much more willing to eat something they have looked after themselves.

All products are sourced as locally as possible, and nothing is knowingly bought that harms the environment or the people who make the products. Effort is made to source recycled or recyclable products, and natural products.

Customer service is our top priority. Please call or e-mail any queries, problems, comments and we shall endeavour to reply within 24 hours.

Claire now has her own blog where day the daily goings on in a country garden can be followed and your comments gratefully received.

To view click here.