Alan Gardner is known as the Autistic Gardener, the title of his highly acclaimed television programme.
Alan is an award winning Garden Designer, lover of tattoos and makeover and has a large Social Media following.
Four facts are known about Alan Gardner
- Alan has Asperger's Syndrome
- He had a cactus at aged 15
- He had a seed catalogue
- He is an award winning gardener called A Gardner
The fifth fact could be, there is not a lot known about Alan Gardner personally but if his garden design is a reflection of him.
He holds nothing back when it comes to design ideas with his use of perspective, light, colour, surroundings, sound and planting schemes.
He holds nothing back when it comes to design ideas with his use of perspective, light, colour, surroundings, sound and planting schemes.
Alan's interest in gardening began during his teenage years. It quickly grew and it took over his parents suburban garden in Birmingham.
At the age of 15 he was already entering his local flower show with his marigolds.
A job at Birmingham parks department followed.
Alan Gardner is a garden designer and has had over 40 award winning gardens since he first dug up his parents garden to fill it with seeds from his catalogue
.Alan was spotted by a Channel 4 Producer on YouTube talking about one of his award winning gardens and The Autistic Gardener was to follow.
The Autistic Gardener Series 1 was first shown in 2015 on Channel 4 and Alan Gardner was in charge of his group of keen Garden Trainees Charles, Thomas, Philip, James and Victoria.
Each week the Team would design and build a garden to a budget for the home owner, but they were not always sure of how it would turn out!
The Team of Neurodivergent Gardeners all having different needs with some of the Trainees getting obsessed with details or their own fixations, can't cope with social situations, can't vocalise their thoughts or stay focused, each week they produced amazing gardens.
Alan throughout the series explains about the difficulties as well as the positives of being on the Autism Spectrum and how to use his unique way of processing patterns and sequences within the gardens on The Autistic Gardener.
The Autistic Gardener Series 2 sees Alan aided only by his trusty sidekick Anthony and his team of landscapers.
In this Series Alan went to America for inspiration and the series was a lot more focused on Alan and his designs.
Alan received his diagnosis of Asperger's late in life, he has obviously always had his unique brain.
Thanks to the way he collects information and processes it we get to share in his inspirational talent for gardening and design.
Thanks to the way he collects information and processes it we get to share in his inspirational talent for gardening and design.
Alan Gardner is an ambassador for the Autism Society, his non neuro-typical brain, his brightly coloured hair, make-up and nail varnish has given us a glimpse into his unique way of seeing things through his Asperger's.
We will never see the world the way Alan does, neuro-typical or not. Instead Alan opens our eyes and all our senses through his garden designs.
Alan is an inspiration to all to unleash and embrace being different. Its not a negative. but a gift to grow and nurture!
We will never see the world the way Alan does, neuro-typical or not. Instead Alan opens our eyes and all our senses through his garden designs.
Alan is an inspiration to all to unleash and embrace being different. Its not a negative. but a gift to grow and nurture!
Alan had a heart attack and originally had a misdiagnosis of indigestion initially, which could have be down to a high pain level.
He now has a constant companion he has called Phil his Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to regulate his heart.
He now has a constant companion he has called Phil his Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) to regulate his heart.
Alan is married to Mandy and they has 3 Children Hayden, Reiss and Deanna.
Alan Gardner has shown at Chelsea flower show and has had over 40 award winning Show Gardens in total, I hope to list them all eventually, this is currently a work in progress.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
2007
Perspectum
2012
'Out of the Blue' with leading turf specialist Lindum Bronze
2015
Silver Medal winner with a Scandinavian style garden in conjunction with Viking River Cruises.
Tatton Flower show
2012
Brass Gold
The RHS Malvern Show
2013
The Incredible Food Gallery
2015
The Autistic Gardener Series 1
Episode 1: Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Ben and Rebecca, £3000
Episode 2: Ealing West London. James and Sophie, £1,200
Episode 3: South London. Zak and Eloise, £10,000
Episode 4: North East London. Alex and Alex, £5,000
2017
The Autistic Gardener Series 2
Episode 1: Lancashire - Pinky and Joe, £10,000
Episode 2: Bristol - Ig and Jo, £15,000
Episode 3: South London - Tim and Claire £15,00 and Jess and Carl £10,000
All photographs are copyright of Channel 4
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