This week's Hats off to Women features is about Jackie Herald, a landscape designer whose projects use antique garden ornament, old garden furniture and reclaimed materials and a freelance writer on architectural salvage - including Period Living's monthly salvage news.
 
What first made you interested in salvaged and reclamation?
I remember, as a little child, the day that my dad came home with a reclaimed bench from the platform of the small branch line station that had just been closed. So I suppose it's second nature to me - to use and enjoy objects of character that tell a story, integrating them into daily life.
 
Did any people or places have a particular influence on your love of salvage?
One of my favourite places to visit is Sir John Soane's museum - for the sense of intrigue, putting masses of archaeological elements together, but within a very sophisticated use of space. I love the views through objects, and reflections in the convex mirrors that throw out light and different perspectives. I should pay it another visit very soon!
 
What sort of salvaged items are you most enthusiastic about?
That's a bit like asking for a favourite tune or artist. I am nuts about cast iron bench ends - which I love to use in my garden and landscape schemes. In reality, I take each thing as it comes - but if I were to put my thoughts in a nutshell, here are the three P's that guide me: proportion, patina and provenance.
 
What made you decide to write about and design with architectural salvage and antiques?
I don't see my career as a writer being exclusively about salvage - as I regard reclaiming and reusing items, and combining them with new materials and processes, as part of good contemporary and sustainable design practice.
 
Has being a woman working with salvage made life easier or more difficult?
I've never had a problem with being a woman! It helps that I'm able to visualise possibilities very quickly - that's essential for both creative design and imaginative yet practical writing. But I don't put that quality down to gender.
 
What are your highlights or downsides of using reclamation and salvage?
Highlight: the head-start you get in setting the story or theme, because of the back-history of the piece (however I'm not talking literal theme park). Downside: budget required to pay someone with the level of skill required to work with salvaged materials that might require some repair … especially when working on landscape projects and subjecting salvo to practical requirements and the elements.
 
Have you any tips for other women wanting to start a salvage business?
It's so important to make sure you've got a decent camera, and a bank of high resolution images (300dpi) to respond when a journalist in a hurry (such as myself!) requests pictures for print.
 
Would you recommend any study courses or training or do you think hands on experience is the best way to learn?
I think building up knowledge by looking, handling, using - and asking questions of experts - is best. The experts to ask questions of include dealers, historians, technicians and specialist craftspeople and conservators.
 
How do you feel about the eco-friendly reuse side of salvage?
I feel very positive, but I think it's important that we don't forget that style, proportion and selecting the right object for the right place is part of sustainability.
 
How do you promote architectural salvage and its design ideas?
I write a monthly salvage news page for Period Living magazine - and features for other publications.
 
How do you feel about upcycling with reclaimed and antique?
Personally, I dislike the term 'upcycling' and don't apply it to my own work. There have been too many items of reclaimed furniture and everyday objects that have been deadened with a badly applied coat of chalky matt paint, or which have been turned into ludicrous, humourless lamp bases, planters and such.
 
What is your current reclamation project?
I'm working on a wildlife garden for a primary school, which already has two red telephone kiosks and an old postbox that I'm going to integrate in the new scheme. I'll probably crunch up the old concrete crazy paving to use as hardcore in the new permeable sub-base for a wheelchair-accessible path around the site.
 
How you relax and unwind?
Funnily enough strolling round French brocantes is one of my favourites - exploring fabulous landscape (and some good local cooking) along the way. Also listening to jazz and classical music - if not the World Service or Radio 4 - while adapting old clothes or conjuring up a brand new wardrobe.
 
Jackie Herald, The Extra Room, 24 Leighton Grove, London NW5 2QP. Tel: 07714 234808. Twitter @jackieherald
 
The Salvo Fair will be held on 18-19 June at Fawley Hill in Henley-on-Thames with Trade Day on Friday 17th June. If you would like to be involved in 'Hats off to Women' answer the same questions and send your story and photos to Salvo.