Many of you knew Cheryl Cummings as a friendly face, an ear to listen and an oracle of advice for gardening and wildlife, but to us, her family, she was so much more, not just one in a million but one in a lifetime writes son John Cummings

She shared her love of nature through her work as a garden designer and writer, helping people to appreciate and protect nature. She always strived to teach others about the beauty of nature around us, how important it is for the whole ecosystem to coexist and how we can make a positive difference to nature in our own gardens.

She supported her family through her work as a garden designer and won many Chelsea awards. Her designs turned hundreds of people’s dreams into reality, to help nature through their gardens.

Her talent for helping others stretched to all she met, always generous, thoughtful and loving, her love for the natural world and protecting it brought her so much happiness. She was committed to helping local rewilding and nature groups, charities, young designers and community projects and always happy to give her time, even in her short retirement. She found such contentment in her wildlife garden writing, excited to share her knowledge of nature that she adored so much.

Each season's offerings brought enjoyment to mum, from making elderflower cordials to natural flu remedies, fruits from her trees for baking and jams and home grown veg from her raised beds, her bees kept her in honey and the winters brought her optimism for the new year ahead. The dawn chorus filled her with peace and her beloved sanctuary, her garden, was where she felt most content. Always watching the flocks of goldfinches, greenfinches and long tailed tits that would welcome the seed she provided all year round.

“Mum selflessly helped her family no matter the need, incredibly supportive, a truly devoted mother and wife, we are so grateful to call her ours. She has left us all too soon but her legacy will live on, a truly beautiful soul that will stay in our hearts forever.

“She tried so hard in everything she did, trying to make the world a little better. She was always positive and found goodness and appreciation in life no matter what she was going through, incredibly determined and strong, making the absolute most of every day.

“Her creativity lives on in her family and in the hundreds of beautifully designed gardens all over the country and in public spaces in Monmouth.

If you would like to send condolences please make a donation to a nature charity of your choice.

Much of her writing is available on her website cherylcummingswildgardenwriting.co.uk . Her work can be seen in the garden of the Church of Saint Thomas, the vegetable garden and meadow at Monmouth Comprehensive School, planting at Monmouth Cemetery Chapel and pollinator friendly planters that contributed to Monmouth becoming the first Bee Town.