Ep 201 Tim Pilgrim - Creating Wild Spaces: The Art of Natural Design & The Interplay of Landscape & Storytelling

Today we wander into the layered world of Tim Pilgrim—a landscape architect and gardener who sees soil, water, and wildness as teachers. Tim invites us to connect with the land rather than control it, to design gardens that honour both human need and ecological integrity.Together we explore the art of observation and the quiet discipline of water management, learning how these practices build truly sustainable landscapes. Tim shares how gardens evolve over time, shaped by climate change and by the gentle hands—and sometimes heavy footprints—of people. We tackle the prickly debates too: lawns that demand more than they give, the dance between native and non-native plants, and the cultural stories that every planting choice can tell.Tim also speaks to the community side of gardening: how diversity—of species, of people, of ideas—creates resilience; how food can slip seamlessly into ornamental spaces; how the rhythm of a gardener’s life becomes a legacy of naturalistic design.This is a conversation for anyone ready to see gardens not just as pretty spaces but as living narratives—places where history, ecology, and our shared future root down together.We chatted about:Landscapes shape the stories we tell & vice versaA holistic approach to gardening fosters biodiversityDesigning for wildness requires sensitivity & observation.Gardens should evolve with the needs of their inhabitantsClimate change necessitates adaptable gardening practicesWater management is crucial for sustainable gardeningHuman influence can coexist with natural ecosystemsSaying phooey to lawns "I'm not a purist; I embrace all plants that look good"Gardens as spaces for community connection Gardening to build a rhythm that aligns with nature's cyclesGardens as places that reflect personal & cultural historiesGardens as inclusive spaces for all living thingsLinks You'll LoveFind Tim online including his book "Wild By Design"Loved this? Try anotherShane Simonsen - Taming the apocalypse, exploring a post industrial world & maize making people madPod Partners Rock: Australian Medicinal Herbs    Code: Future5Support the ShowCasual Support - Buy Me A CoffeeRegular Support - PatreonBuy the Book - Futuresteading - live like tomorrow matters, Huddle - creating a tomorrow of togethernessSupport the show