Spike Jackson MSGD spent his childhood surrounded by the landscape and dramatic skies of “Constable Country” on the Suffolk/Essex border. Green fingers run in his blood – his maternal grandfather was chairman of the local Horticultural Society – and, while still at school, Spike built his first pond for his parents’ garden in East Bergholt. An apprenticeship in plant propagation at a local nursery was followed by a year at Merrist Wood Horticultural College, near Guildford. Here he gained a National Certificate in Horticulture with Distinction, and the “Best in Year” prize.

In 1986 he established his own design and build garden construction business in London, and went on to work for a number of prestigious clients, including Loyd Grossman, Sir Colin (now Lord) Marshall, Lord and Lady King, Victoria Mather and Boy George. With a view to switching to pure design, Spike studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Greenwich during the early 90s.

In 1994, with a fledgling family in tow, Spike relocated to Grantchester, on the river Cam just outside Cambridge. Having honed his design skills over the previous eight years, Spike has since concentrated on the design of elegant contemporary gardens in Cambridge, East Anglia and London. He has built up a close working relationship with a small number of reputable landscape contractors who implement his designs to the very high standard that he asks of them.

In spring 2005 Spike applied for, and successfully gained, Registered Membership of the Society of Garden Designers. The adjudication process involves the presentation and thorough critique of a number of recent garden projects by a panel of experienced designers. Gaining this accreditation allows Spike to join a select band of under 200 garden designers nationwide who are able to use the letters MSGD after their name.