ANDRE GAYRAUD
André Gayraud, who teaches pruning and pollarding techniques at the forestry school of Châteauneuf du Rhône, Drôme, plant recognition in the adult continuous training section of the national horticulture school in Versailles, agricultural botany of nectar plants at the apiculture school of Rosans, Drôme, is well known for his educational skills. His passion for plants has led him to organise some major events on the subject (Courson plant day, first national exhibition of old fruiting varieties in Cuisiat, Ain). He is the founder and chairman of the “Sequoia” quality circle, a club of thousands of pollarders from all over the country who have committed to a charter of ethics for the care of trees.
His most significant contracts include:
Landscaping on behalf of EDF of the Bugey 4-reactor nuclear power station, the village of St Vulbas where the power station is and the industrial estate of the Ain plain on 200 hectares adjoining it.
Landscaping of a new district called Le Jourdil in Annecy (500 homes).
Landscaping of the village centre and square in Crans-Gevrier near Annecy.
Design and realisation for the Chateau of Carmatin near Tournus: mazes, classical garden, theatre of greenery (60000 visitors a year).
Realisation of the Yvoire Garden in Haute Savoie, listed as an Outstanding Garden (40000 visitors a year).
His experience and talent have made him much sought-after by distinguished private clients.
Some examples are the design and realisation of the gardens of former President Giscard d’Estaing at his first home in Authon, Loir et Cher, and his family estate in Chamonat, Puy de Dôme; design and realisation of the gardens of the Château de Bagnols, a luxury 5-star hotel in the Rhône department, for Lord and Lady Hamelyn; design and realisation of gardens in the Médoc, Gironde, for Château Giscours, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and Château Pichon Longueville - Comtesse de Lalande; in St Emilion, for Château Canon, Château l’Angelus, Château Haut Sarpe and Château Figeac; in Pommerol for Château Pavie, Château La Pointe, Château La Croix and Château La Croix St Georges.
He has also done work for Catherine Deneuve in Passy sur Eure, Madame Davidoff in Collonges sur Salève on the Swiss border, the family estate of Bruno Bich (CEO of Bic pens) in Chaneins, Ain.
For the hotel industry he has designed and built the gardens of Prés d’Eugénie for Michel Guérard in Eugénie les Bains, the gardens of Oustau de Baumanière and Cabro d’Or in Baux de Provence, the garden of the Hostellerie Bérard in Cadière d’Azur, Var, the gardens and terraces of the Grands Buffets in Narbonne and many other gardens in France, Switzerland, Spain and Belgium.
Amongst his other landscaping work, special mention should be made of the 220-hectare Gouverneur golf course in Monthieux near Lyon (two 18-hole and one 9-hole courses and 2 practice greens (1 on water and 1 on land).
