Our design philosophy

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What makes a garden a garden and not some untouched wilderness, nor museum piece where we're told don't touch or stay off the grass? People. 

We believe its a given that gardens should be functional and liveable, serving the needs, wants and desires of the people who live there. 

Our gardens are rooted in what people want to do in them; well proportioned, arranged, accessible, and tied into the house; offering places to play, relax, take refuge, look out and easily move through. 

We involve clients at every step as collaborators; and we like to think clients become friends and an essential part of our story.

With our changing climate,  we all have a responsibility to care for our planet. Drier summers and wetter winters tell us its in everyone's interest to do things a little differently than me may have in the past.

We believe this is now another given. In our gardens it means thinking creatively to produce both aesthetically beautiful and environmentally sustainable gardens that promote ecological health and nurture our own well being.

Our gardens make climate positive contributions, such as improving biodiversity, reducing the need for chemicals and at times scarce resources like water, and using sustainable materials, locally sourced wherever possible.

In Britain, its nations and regions, we’re blessed with unparalleled natural beauty, and such diversity in that beauty. We're all very lucky, yet often we overlook it in our gardens. 

We believe gardens should reflect the intrinsic natural character of each place, viewing our gardens at part of wider landscapes.  Rather this than some unrelated and imposed aesthetic borrowed from another place, that can otherwise lead to a confused eclecticism, poor pastiche or cloned replica.

 Our gardens pay close attention to regional diversity, extending the idea of right plant, right place to right landscape, right plant, right place. We look over the garden fence, to borrow from what lies beyond, releasing a creative energy that takes what's meaningful and brings it forward.

 Nature cannot be mastered nor bettered, only learnt from; always there to teach us lasting lessons. 

We believe we should appreciate, celebrate and amplify its intrinsic beauty - intimately tied as it is to wider landscapes. To evoke and enhance these places, rather than slavishly recreate them, nor overtly seek to control them.

Our gardens start with native plants, benefitting from indigenous plant communities that are already thriving in local habitats. We combine them with carefully selected naturalised and non-natives in sensitive, bespoke designs with heighted appeal that tug at the heart strings.

The process of designing and installing a garden is just as important as the finished product.   Doing things as well as we can in good time key.

We believe garden design is a hands-on pursuit, and though we fully use the benefits of computer aided design, we still love to draw by hand and feel it works as a bridge between the art, science and technology of great design.

Likewise, our gardens are a celebration of human craft and craftmanship, prioritising the use of local materials, artisans and craftsman to create garden that feels integral to their locations. 

We should resist both the instant gratification of gardens that superficially look good all year round, and any latest fashion that looks great until the day it doesn't.

We believe truly timeless gardens respect the longer view,  understand the web of life, natural systems, their patterns, their constraints and limitations. Not only to work within them, but to realise possibilities they offer.

Our gardens are designed with time in mind, for longevity, working with purposefully simple planting palettes and harder materials; embracing the movement of the seasons, and celebrating beauty in growth and decay.