The Plant Library

When it comes to gathering research and learning more about plants, then there is little to compare to The Plant Library, at Serge Hill in Hertfordshire.   Conceived and created by Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith, The Serge Hill Project for Gardening, Creativity and Health was set up in 2023 as a Community Interest Company (CIC) offering resources to schools, youth organisations, GP surgeries and community groups, who want to connect with nature and learn more about gardening.  The Plant Library is located at its core, featuring an award-winning building called the Apple House, designed by Sue and Tom’s architect son, Ben Stuart-Smith.

The Plant Library beds are set out as a grid and feature over 2000 varieties of herbaceous plants and over 500 bulbs.  This unique collection contains plants that are generally long-lived and theoretically tolerant of the changing climate.  The site is sub-divided into an area of sharp sand for the plants that require a free-draining soil and an area of composted waste for the plants that require more moisture to thrive.  The Plant Library is overseen by gardener Millie Souter, who is constantly recording and editing plant performance.  It is a fascinating place that is both beautiful and functional and provides an inspirational resource for Tom’s design studio who are also located on the site.

If you become a member of the Plant Library, it is then possible to visit and study the plants for yourself, during the Friday afternoon drop-in sessions and you can benefit from access to the Plant Library database.  Garden Masterclass runs a three-day planting design course there every year, and if you are interested to know more, then please email Garden Masterclass on info@gardenmasterclass.org