How did you come up with the theme for this garden in the first place?

Steve: Because we work in the Fens – it is a constant source of inspiration – the mysterious landscape coupled with the folklore is a potent mix and our imaginations just went off on one in the winter of 2008 with this fictional character called Fen Ben (once brought to life by Roger’s son, Adam – that’s a long story!)

Jane: As the idea progressed the theme became more theatrical – we wanted to make the garden very mysterious and so for Chelsea, Fen Ben became an Alchemist. This meant that the planting could be taken to a new level whereby we used plants that have been used for centuries in plant Alchemy (known as the Lesser Circulation) and also carried on the alchemic theme with the planting by using British natives and cultivars from the same genus to portray the plants man’s alchemy – the quest to create ever more beautiful cultivars. It was a challenging planting scheme as every plant had its native partner which meant if a plant wasn’t up to standard on the day, we couldn’t use its partner either. It was a big risk but thankfully one that paid off!

Everything used in the garden was supposed to be recycled or reclaimed – was that the case?

Steve: Yes it was – even the screws, nails and hinges were recycled – there was nothing new at all in the garden other than the plants. The window in the shed was from my pantry, the bricks for the furnace were from my old fireplace and the corrugated metal roof was part of my old pigpen.

Jane: People have been really generous in lending us artefacts such as Peter Carter the Eel man who lent us eel traps and other things as well as making a couple of mole traps for us. Paula our financial controller knew a real Fen Tiger who unfortunately died a few years ago – she still had his old bike and other things which she kindly let us use. We collected old bottles and filled them with colourful concoctions and even had a dried dead frog in a jar!

How long did it take to construct the garden?

Steve: We were a team of six and it took us nine days which is great really. They were a very hard working team and we couldn't have asked for more from them - they did a great job.

Jane: It was a great working atmosphere - everyone worked so well as a team and there was a real feeling of camaraderie from all the other designers and operatives - a real festival atmosphere (with only the odd stressed out panicky moment).

For those of us who didn’t get to Chelsea this year, what was it like and were the effects of the credit crunch visible?

Steve: I think a lot of designers have been made acutely aware of the need to recycle and re-use old materials not just for money reasons but for environmental as well – The tide really seems to be turning in favour of making use of discarded materials and the credit crunch has added more gravitas to that. The cutting edge design was still evident and there were some really brilliant gardens and the marquee was as high a standard as ever.

Jane: There was definitely more designs veering toward the natural look this year but I think that is to do with trends and the credit crunch has probably had a lot to do with the direction the trends are going in. But as for the atmosphere - it was as wonderful as always! Just think local flower show on a very large scale!

Talking of trends – what are your predictions for latest garden looks this season.

Jane: Colour is back – dahlias are back – in fact I think it is a bit of ‘everything goes’ I think the vegetable trend is here to stay for a while but will be joined with herbs and medicinal plants – that’s where the planting trends are heading – towards the medicinal and historic mixed with herbaceous – the use of natives is going to get far more popular too. As for high design I see a lean towards the dark side with black and bruised purple plants making a bit of a come back.

Steve: In design I see a move towards the exotic and I think we could even see bedding plants making a come back – and even the dreaded crazy paving!

What is it like winning a Gold medal and Best in Category at Chelsea?

Steve: It’s like all your birthdays and Christmas’s in one!

Jane: I found it quite hard to take in – you are striving for absolute perfection and so every tiny little thing becomes something big in your mind and therefore you end up thinking that a gold would be impossible. So it was an enormous shock when I arrived on the Tuesday morning to a little piece of gold sparkling in the sun.

Steve: I still don’t think its sunk in yet – you find yourself looking at the medal and thinking did we really do that?

Jane: It is a wonderful experience though – surprisingly emotional – I blubbed like a baby which was very embarrassing – thank goodness the camera crews had gone by the time I got there!

So where were you Steve on the big day?

Steve: I was at college finishing my presentation for my university degree which was finishing the same week! Jane rang me and I couldn’t believe it – I just burst out laughing! It was strange to not be there – in fact the whole experience was strange juggling two very important things in the same couple of weeks.

So what’s next for Giles Landscapes – how can you better that?

Steve: Well it would be great to do a big show garden again – something unusual and theatrical…

Jane: We are already thinking of ideas for it but as it stands it is a far off dream – we would need a very generous sponsor to make it a reality – but it’s good to have a dream otherwise, as the old song goes… ‘how you gonna have a dream come true?’! :)