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Guy Watts
In the world of horticulture, few stories unfold quite like that of Guy Watts. Garden Designer, Managing Director, and the owner of Architectural Plants—a 32-acre nursery in West Sussex that’s home to over 40,000 plants and, notably, some of the largest pots you’re ever likely to see. His journey is one of quiet determination, sharp intuition, and a deep, long standing relationship with the natural world.
Childhood weekends were spent wandering nurseries with his mother—one of which happened to be the original Architectural Plants site in Nuthurst—lighting the initial spark. A neighbour’s garden, partly designed by the celebrated Dan Pearson, cemented the fascination. “I got obsessed with plants,” Guy recalls, “from watching what you could do, with a bit of investment money and a passion for it.”
By his teens, he was spending every spare moment at the nursery: Saturdays, school holidays, even a spell post-university. It wasn’t just the plants that drew him in—it was the energy, the possibility. He was learning about beauty, about systems, about how to do things properly. And he was absorbing lessons from the best, including Angus White, the visionary founder of Architectural Plants. “Even when I went off and did my own thing in my twenties” Guy says, “I was always obsessed with the business.”
One of those “other things” was co-founding Streetscape, a landscaping social enterprise that trained long-term unemployed young people in south London. He ran it from 2010 to 2017, building a scheme that did more than just teach—it created pathways to independence, confidence, and purpose. When he returned to Architectural Plants in 2020 as its new owner, he brought those ideas with him.
Today, over 10% of the workforce at Architectural Plants are apprentices. That number is set to rise to 25%. The company partners with local colleges, like Brinsbury, offering a balanced, hands-on model: four days on site, one day in the classroom. The result? A new generation of skilled horticulturists with both practical experience and qualifications—plus the confidence to shape careers of their own, whether in gardening or beyond. “We want a team that spans generations,” Guy explains.
If it all sounds refreshingly un-corporate, that’s because it is. Guy’s background isn’t rooted in horticulture at all—it’s in accounting and finance. “I love spreadsheets,” he says, not even half-joking. What they bring to the table is clarity. “My passion was about seeing things done well. Beautiful design, attention to detail.” The business acumen and creative flair go hand in hand. And it shows—in the work, the team, and the culture he’s shaping.
Perfection here isn’t sterile. It’s dynamic, collaborative, and occasionally a little messy. “Sometimes the most amazing things actually come from people making mistakes,” Guy says, especially when it comes to topiary and plant shaping. It’s about having the confidence to try, fail, and try again—without losing sight of the objective.
If you’re starting to sense a pattern—drive, risk-taking, a certain restless energy—you wouldn’t be wrong. At 25, Guy became one of the first people in the world to row across the Indian Ocean as a pair. It took 102 days, a self-built boat, and a lot of grit. The journey raised over £100,000 and left him with a belief that anything’s possible, given the right mindset. “It makes you really believe you can do anything.” More recently, he got his private pilot’s license. Just for the challenge.
There’s a duality to Guy that’s immediately engaging. Practical and visionary. Focused and irreverent. One minute he’s loading trees in shorts and work boots, the next he’s at Chelsea Flower Show in a bright floral shirt, holding court on a 10x10 metre stand bursting with homegrown plants. “I enjoy the contrast,” he admits. “I’m treated very differently depending on what I wear. I’ve even been given tips while loading cars at the nursery in shorts and t-shirts—when I dress smarter, I am taken more seriously!”
For our shoot, Guy leaned into that signature balance—functional with a flourish. Wearing a classic Denim Chore Jacket layered over a Chambray Shirt, paired with natural tan Drill Jeans. The kind of look that feels just as natural among towering tree ferns as it does in front of a camera. The finishing touches were distinctly his: a botanical-print silk pocket square, a quiet nod to his world, and a braided leather belt that brought it all together. Effortless, but considered.
This year, the stand at Chelsea will be more than a showcase of rare plants—it’ll be a stage for the young talent behind them. Apprentices, new hires, and rising stars, all shaping the future of horticulture in a real, tangible way. It’s a reminder that this business is about more than aesthetics—it’s about people, opportunity, and doing things the right way.
Work in the gardens is usually quite physical and often pretty dirty—moving plants around, digging, that sort of thing. So for me, it's all about finding a balance. Practicality is key, and wearing something hard wearing is a massive thing.
Architectural Plants is also looking to the future in terms of sustainability. The ambition? To grow 90% of their stock on-site, up from an already impressive fourfold increase since 2015. And they aren’t afraid to go bold: like the time the team planted six large trees in under an hour using a helicopter—a move that would’ve made Jeremy Clarkson proud, but was all in a day’s work.
Guy’s approach to business—and to life—is holistic, people-first, and grounded in purpose. Whether he’s shaping trees, guiding a team, or flying a plane, he leads with optimism, integrity, and a genuine desire to help things grow. The kind of growth that matters.
He represents something quietly radical: a new breed of entrepreneur who treats business as a craft, who sees mentorship not as charity but as strategy, and who understands that giving people real chances leads to real results. His story isn’t finished yet—but it’s already an inspiring one.
And if you ask anyone who’s worked with him, they’ll likely say the same thing: he’s our kind of Guy!
Product Code: S
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4Very comfortable fit, nice and lightweight for Spring and Summer wear and looks good with dark brown moleskin trousers as well as denim/jeans and a cardigan
The color and material are very pleasing, and it is exceptionally soft.
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It was the wrong item. I am sending it back.
A1 thanks a lot
Good quality trousers been looking for this colour for a while. Good fit just what I wanted
Great shirt
A new favourite item of clothing for every day wear.
A shirt that is so casually stylish as well as being easy to wear
