Modern hero of horticulture - Tessa Johnstone, Johnstone Landscapes
For Tessa Johnstone, Director of Johnstone Landscapes, creating beautiful outdoor spaces is about far more than planting and construction. It's about craftsmanship, respect for the natural environment, the people behind every project and ensuring that the landscaping industry continues to evolve for future generations.
Based in Wiltshire, Johnstone Landscapes has built an exceptional reputation for delivering beautifully considered gardens and landscapes across the South and South West of England and Wales. Founded by Andrew Johnstone, the family business combines decades of experience with a highly skilled team, working alongside some of the country's leading garden designers and landscape architects.
At the heart of the business is an unwavering commitment to quality. Under Tessa's leadership, the team takes enormous pride in the finer details, from traditional construction techniques and carefully selected natural materials to the precision of planting and the sensitive integration of each garden into its surroundings.
Rather than simply following trends, Johnstone Landscapes champions traditional craftsmanship, combining time-honoured methods with modern expertise to create gardens that feel authentic, established and built to last.
Sustainability is equally fundamental to Tessa's approach. The business believes landscaping should leave a positive legacy, creating environments in which nature can thrive. This philosophy extends beyond planting schemes to the sourcing of materials, relationships with suppliers and a determination to challenge environmentally questionable practices. By questioning provenance, considering the wider environmental impact of projects and continually exploring better ways of working, the team demonstrates how traditional skills and progressive environmental thinking can work hand in hand.
The results speak for themselves. Johnstone Landscapes' portfolio includes extraordinary private gardens, historic landscapes, commercial developments and ambitious restoration projects. Its work has featured in prestigious publications including Country Life, Gardens Illustrated and Homes & Gardens.
Among its remarkable projects is the restoration and development of a Japanese water garden within a historic five-acre walled garden, originally established in the 17th century. The project required exceptional technical skill, sensitivity and painstaking attention to detail, including rebuilding waterways and carefully positioning enormous natural boulders within a challenging landscape.
But Tessa's contribution to horticulture extends well beyond Johnstone Landscapes.
In 2023, she was appointed National Chair of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), having previously served as Vice-Chair and as the Association's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director from 2019.
Through this influential industry role, Tessa has been a passionate advocate for making landscaping a more welcoming, accessible and inclusive profession. She helped champion BALI's Landscaping - Access All Areas initiative, encouraging important conversations about the barriers facing people entering and working within the industry, and contributed to the development of a wider industry Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter.
Her commitment is practical as well as strategic. Tessa has spoken openly about improving recruitment practices, addressing inequality and creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds, including measures introduced within her own business. Her work reflects a belief that the future of horticulture depends not only on the landscapes we create, but on the opportunities we provide for the people who create them.
What makes Tessa a true Modern Hero of Horticulture is this combination of values. She champions the traditional skills and craftsmanship that have shaped British landscaping for generations, while recognising the responsibility to embrace sustainability, encourage new talent and help build a more inclusive industry.
Through her leadership at Johnstone Landscapes and her wider contribution to the profession, Tessa is helping ensure that the landscapes of tomorrow are not only beautifully made, but thoughtfully and responsibly created.
A champion of craftsmanship, a voice for positive change and a passionate advocate for the future of British landscaping.
