THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Planting Trees At Modern Mint
Through the charity Trees For Life, Modern Mint are planting trees.
I spend my days working with trees and shrubs, shaping and pruning them into odd shapes. Like this abstract duck, for example…
But it is not just clipping trees – I love planting trees too.
Planting Trees To Save The Planet
Modern Mint should be doing more to encourage the planting of trees.
When I see articles like this one about the melting glaciers in Iceland, read the words of warning about climate catastrophe by Greta Thunberg or note the denials that humanity has done anything wrong to the planet by men in privileged positions, it makes me want to do everything I can to green up the landscape.
It may seem futile or silly, when you look at the uncaring way some people treat the natural environment, but each step will help.
Trees For Life – Plant A Tree Today
Trees For Life are a charity I came across when I first read about rewilding the UK in the book Feral.
Since 1993 Trees For Life have been trying to restore the Caledonian Forest in the Scottish landscape, in the process not just bringing back trees like Scots Pine, Willows, Aspen and Birches but enhancing life all the way across the land.
Growing trees means the impact of climate change can be reduced by storing carbon, preventing flooding and erosion through the tree roots slowing down water and allowing wildlife to thrive – such as the red squirrel returning to the North West Highlands.
Planting trees creates life. Something we love about gardening and try to encourage all of our clients to do, whether we are making topiary in their garden or giving a talk at their group.
We Support Trees for Life
This is the easiest way we can make a difference.
Support the Trees For Life project by visiting the grove of trees Modern Mint has donated, and adding your tree to the grove. It costs £6 per tree and I hope that, over the next few years, we can make a massive difference to the world.
Plant a tree now and enhance life for everyone.
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue
With Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society we visited Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Do you know it? Amazing place! Chris and I were teaching a topiary workshop in order to give local people the skills and technique, and tenacity! to help with the pruning of the avenue and elevate it to something even more special than it already is. Read more about the workshops here. We hope to run a further workshop in September 2026, as well as teach an advanced course too. Check the teaching page through the year as it will be updated …