Jack Dunckley answers The Questions

I received an out of the blue question the other day asking whether I would like to interview Jack Dunckley.  I have not carried out any interviews previously on my blog but I thought about it for about a second and thought, why not.  The more I thought about it, the more I thought what a jolly good idea it was.  So here it is, the first in what will be a series of interviews  with garden-related people based around the same questions.

I happily agreed to interview Jack because I was aware of him, having seen him appear on Gardeners World several years ago and when he has popped up in articles and shows since then.  Jack is the owner of Jack Dunckely’s Birchfield Nursery in Sussex and is an award winning garden designer.  He is 22 years old and has achieved much in this time.  By much I mean a Bronze Medal, Malvern 2008, Silver Medal, London Plant and Design Show Chelsea 2009, Silver Gilt Medal Malvern 2009, Silver Medal Hampton Court Flower Show 2010, Certificate of Merit (Ethical Furniture Stand Design) Chelsea 2011, Silver Gilt Medal Hampton Court Flower Show 2012, Finalist Young Achiever of the Year, Sussex 2012, Silver Gilt Medal Chelsea Flower Show 2013, Silver Gilt Medal Hampton Court Flower Show 2014.  So pretty much winning something every year since 2008, a record to be truly proud of.  This year so far Jack has taken part in Grand Designs Live in early May. 

Hampton Court 2014 Silver Gilt Medal winning garden 

The Questions

1.	In which garden do you feel happiest?	One of my clients, Lord Saatchi's garden
2.	If you could only have five gardening tools, which would they be?	Secateurs, a Fork, a Spade, a Spirit Level and a Drill
3.	If you could only have five garden-related books, which would they be?	Anything by Dr D G Hessayon
4.	What was the most defining moment of your life so far?	Being the youngest medal winner at RHS Chelsea to date
5.	What are you most proud of?	Successfully building my brand Jack Dunckley from scratch
6.	If you won the lottery, what would you do?	Sponsor my own garden at Chelsea Flower Show!
7.	Who are your garden heroes (no more than three)	Alan Titchmarsh stands out
8.	What skill would you like to learn and why (does not have to be gardening related)	Flying Planes
9.	If you could visit any garden right this minute, which one would it be?	Nymfa in Tuscany
10.	What is your current plant obsession?	Tropical Exotics
11.	Which garden tool is never far from your hand?	My Mac computer. I do use it more than anything else in conjunction with gardening!
12.	What is your favourite gardening/plant related word?	Ravendula Madascariensis
13.	What do you wish you could do better?	Be more efficient with my time
14.	What is the most important lesson you have learned so far?	To believe in myself and my abilities
15.	What makes a perfect day for you?	Sunshine and being outdoors preferably in a garden
16.	If you had one piece of advice to offer to someone what would it be?	Hoticulturally......learn....gain as much knowledge as you can, it has served me very well.
17.	Gnome or no-gnome?	Definitely.....no gnome!!

 Huge thanks to Jack for agreeing to do this.  I am sure our paths will cross in reality one day soon and I am looking forward to meeting him.

Next time:  John Brookes MBE




With grateful thanks to Sarah Gartside.