Although each project varies in its size and scope, we find that undertaking work in clearly defined stages helps to ensure that things run smoothly. The list on the right gives more information about the key stages for a private garden design.

We always begin with a consultation at the site to discuss your ideas and establish your requirements and preferred design styles. Following this, a summary of the design brief and a design quotation are provided.

A full site survey is made to establish the exact dimensions of the site, including changes in level. An analysis of existing vegetation and soil also takes place if necessary. We like to undertake this ourselves, but if the site is large we will outsource the work to a reputable land survey company.

We will prepare suitable design options for you in the form of plans, sketches and samples of hard landscaping materials based on the agreed brief. We then meet you on site to discuss these, helping to ensure that the final design will be exactly the way you want it.

The final design is developed and drawn up into a detailed, labeled presentation plan and a hand-drawn sketch view.

We also provide a planting plan, plant list and full maintenance notes for easy reference.

The build can be undertaken by one of our recommended professional landscape contractors or put out to tender for a range of quotes.

All required construction drawings, suggested sources for hard materials, setting out plans and full specification documentation will be provided if required.

Once the build begins, we offer a construction management service to monitor the project, ensuring that on-site issues are quickly resolved, the design is realised as intended and constructed to the highest possible quality.

We can provide a service to source, supply and layout the plants as per the planting plan.

We like to set out the plants in their correct positions but the actual planting can be done by us, the contractor or yourself. We can also organise a visit to a local trade plant nursery before the planting design is undertaken, which is useful for giving you ideas and helping us identify your preferred plants.

We provide full maintenance notes for all plants and features.

We do not provide a garden maintenance service, but can recommend professional gardeners in your area.

Initial on-site consultations to establish your requirements last approx 2 hours and are charged at £80.

This is deducted from the final payment if you proceed with a garden design. Depending on where you live we may need to include a charge for travel time.

Design fees are calculated on a per project basis after the initial consultation. On larger projects of over £20,000 design fees may be calculated as a percentage of the build cost as per the Society of Garden Designers guidelines.