The Journey
Time with Mike to understand your garden and explore what’s possible
A clear, considered direction for your space
Continued care and guidance to keep your garden thriving
Why The Friendly Garden Co. ?
This isn’t just gardening.
It’s a lifetime of experience, care, and understanding brought into your space.
- Rooted in Cornwall, with a deep respect for its landscape
- Led by world-class horticultural experience
- A calm, considered approach to every garden
- We work with a limited number of clients each season
Michael Friend
Michael has spent his life around plants.
Not just working with them, but understanding them. How they respond to the seasons, how they settle into a space, and how the right planting can completely change the feeling of a garden.
As former Head Gardener at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mike led one of the most celebrated gardens in the country. It’s where he developed a deep, practical knowledge that’s hard to come by, especially here in Cornwall, where every garden presents its own unique conditions.
But more than anything, Mike simply loves gardens.
He cares about how they feel. How they grow over time. And how they can become places that people genuinely enjoy spending time in.
Today, his focus is on passing that knowledge on.
Helping homeowners across Cornwall create gardens that feel natural, balanced, and full of life, spaces that welcome nature, support flora and fauna, and continue to evolve beautifully year after year.
It’s not about imposing an idea onto a garden.
It’s about understanding it properly, and guiding it towards what it’s meant to become.
Member of the Cornwall Garden Society
As a proud member of the Cornwall Garden Society, Mike is committed to continually developing his knowledge and celebrating Cornwall's unique horticultural heritage. The Society brings together professional gardeners, passionate enthusiasts and experts who share a love of gardening, while championing the county's remarkable gardens and supporting the future of horticulture in Cornwall.
Being part of the Society allows Mike to stay connected with the latest ideas, learn from others in the industry, and bring that knowledge back to every garden he creates and maintains for his clients.