I was aware from an early age that gardens were designed and not an accident. My parents took me to many stately homes in England, all of which were made to impress. Wealth, power and privilege were on display. When I was seventeen I came across a book on Japanese gardens and began to understand that they could have a very different purpose.

In 2017 during a trip to Marrakech I came across the newly opened Le Jardin Secret, recently restored and hidden by high walls in the centre of the souks at the heart of the old city. I did not then know the story of this 400 year old garden but our guide that day whetted my appetite. The guidebook by Tom Stuart-Smith (a British designer who assisted in creating the garden) told the story and my search for more information brought me to "The Art of the Islamic Garden" by Emma Clarke. There is also an online video which shows the re-building of the garden.

As a photographer I began to wonder how I might create a short monograph that could do justice to the ideas within this design. Living in Western Europe I know that the intentions of the Islamic faith are often mis-represented or  unknown and I wanted to use my ability, such as it is, to present something beautiful that people may want to look at but, at the same time, gave them information that helped them towards a deeper understanding of those of a different faith. I am now working towards that.

In following this journey I twice had to cancel trips back to Le Jardin Secret, firstly due to Covid and the extended lockdown in Morocco and later due to the devastating earthquake in the Atlas near Marrakech in September 2023. I managed the return however in January 2025 and, with the extensive assistance of the staff of the garden, gained wonderful access and help. My very grateful thanks to everyone I spoke to, and to the owner and instigator of the scheme Lauro Milan, who generously gave me some of his time to talk about the regeneration. I will attempt to return in the summer of 2025 when the garden is in bloom to complete the work.

I will not repeat the content of the two books already mentioned. They do a good job. I  would rather provide an illustrative annex to reflect on the Islamic garden as an illustration of ideas. In the Quran Paradise is described as a garden and held to be obtainable by following the guidance of the Prophet. So earthly gardens are a hint of the beauty that is in store for the faithful. They are enclosed in order to exclude the dangerous elements beyond their boundaries and contain those things most needed to sustain both body and soul. The trees  give fruit, the herbs can be used for flavouring but also give scent. Water represents honey, milk and wine as well as being itself. Fountains, flowing water and shade cool the garden, essential in hot climates where gardens are not for walking. These gardens are for contemplation.

Gardens are long-term projects and develop slowly over time. Our lives are usually shorter. This means that we can contemplate greater time and space within a garden than our own short times. People appear in my photographs as fleeting figures, incidentals to the whole.

Nor am I wanting to show the garden as it is in totality but those elements mentioned here that are pensive, reflective and meditative. The elements that make us wonder or give pause for thought. These are the key concerns of Islamic culture which that garden represents, those elements of Paradise, which a follower of the faith should seek.

Finally there are, of course, many gardens influenced by these principles and linked to Islam from the gardens of Southern Spain through the whole of the Middle East, parts of Africa and Asia. Each differs depending on climate but the principles of each remain the same. Nor have a I sought to consider the Earth Garden, a separate part of the site on which Le Jardin Secret stands. It is impressive too but tells another tale. Watch this space for later announcements of the book, which will be titled "From water every living thing".