Garden Design
A personal, friendly, and professional service, carried out to the highest standards, and with meticulous attention to detail, responding carefully to your unique brief.
This service is perfect for clients who require discussion and development of ideas for their landscaping plans, and who need site visits, professional surveys and other services.
INITIAL CONSULTATION - £60 per hour, plus travel time
I will visit your garden or site to discuss your needs and to make an initial assessment of the space. During this visit, we will discuss options, and I’ll make some initial recommendations.
DESIGN PROPOSAL
I will create a proposal document containing a summary of your brief, an outline of the challenges and opportunities presented by the space. I will also include a design proposal describing the approach I’d like to take, and how I would propose to address the challenges and achieve the outcomes stated in the brief.
You will receive a Contract and my Terms and Conditions. I also provide a payment schedule and ‘sign-off’ points so you can see exactly where you are at any stage.
The design
The garden
SURVEY
At this point in the design process your garden design will be drawn up using the data from a site assessment and survey. This ensures that I have a thorough understanding of your garden – not only its dimensions, but also level changes, areas of damp and shade, and views you wish to showcase.
This survey is carried out on site with precision equipment. I only use specialist survey companies in order to obtain the best possible data.
The site analysis is carried out by myself and includes pictures of your garden, a site assessment, and the taking of soil samples for analysis.
CONCEPT SKETCHES
This is a collaborative, responsive process, and includes 2 revisions before sign-off to ensure the design is exactly right for you.
The initial presentation will feature up to three Concept Options, and a beautifully rendered fly-through of each option, with accompanying full-colour plans. I have found that this helps my clients to visualise the options with clarity, so that they are empowered to make informed decisions about the designs.
It’s important to me that you know exactly what the Concepts would look like once built, and you can see exactly how they answer your brief, so that you have confidence in the process.
Check out my You Tube Channel for examples of previous fly-through videos.
MATERIALS AND FINISHES
Once we have signed off the Concept Sketches, we’ll go on to detailed discussions regarding planting, lighting, and materials. At this stage I will order samples and create moodboards to show different options. One of the most enjoyable parts of this stage is getting out each sample, discussing how they work together, and building – layer by layer – exactly the finish that you will love for years to come.
LANDSCAPERS PACK
Once all of the decisions about the garden have been made, I will compile a Landscaper’s Pack. This is a technically detailed set of plans and drawings that will enable your chosen contractor to create the garden exactly as intended.
This includes:
- A colour design render and Masterplan
- A Setting out plan
- Construction drawings
- Detailed planting plans
- A Bill of Quantities and a materials and products list
Also included is a Health and Safety Pack including all the documentation required by the Construction and Design Management Regulations (2015 & 2023).
Landscapers Pack Testimonial from Richard (Contractor)
“Your Landscaper’s Pack saved us two weeks on site, because everyone knew exactly what they were doing.”
PROJECT MONITORING
I have found Project Monitoring to be essential for ensuring that the garden is built exactly how it has been designed.
This service includes a once a week visit to address any challenges that may have arisen
I have found it to be just as valuable to the contractors, who have a point of contact for design questions, as to the clients, who can be assured that issues will be quickly resolved.
Project monitoring also includes follow-up visits at regular intervals.
Project monitoring case study:
My clients had found some great contractors through my recommendations, and the build started in early 2024. This site quickly turned into a quagmire due to some truly awful weather. I visited each week to discuss progress. During these visits, we overcame challenges such as:
- assessing accidental damage to tree roots (the tree was fine)
- what to do about the nest of smooth newts discovered when excavating for the gazebo (they were temporarily rehomed, and are now happily living in the new pond)
- adapting the design to account for the newt colony (we discussed the options and decided how to increase the size of the pond without compromising the design)
As well as these unforeseen issues, I was able to assure my clients that everything was going to be alright, despite the rain and the mud, and that they hadn’t made a terrible mistake. I was also able to discuss progress with the contractor and agree slight amendments they proposed.
The build was finished on time, and all parties are thrilled with the finished garden.