A well designed garden should reflect the needs of its owners and sit comfortably within the surrounding environment. The role of the garden designer, therefore, is first to understand both the practical requirements of the client as well as their preferences of style, plants, colours and materials and to interpret this information in the light of a detailed site survey and analysis.

Some people will want a garden filled with plants, which need looking after, while many will want a more low-maintenance alternative. It is perfectly possible, by appropriate choices of planting, to achieve a lush green space that does not require constant attention (though, having said this, ‘low maintenance’ should not be confused with ‘no maintenance’!)

Environmentally-friendly choices, particularly in hard landscaping, will always be recommended. I will strive to  increase the biodiversity of any garden I work on by specifying plants that will attract birdlife, bees and pollinating insects.