Who says you need to travel far to experience a sense of sanctuary and retreat? It is entirely possible to create this in your own garden! With some professional garden design inspiration, you can enjoy your own immersive retreat from the stresses of everyday life – and it will be available to you all year round. Over the last few years, we have noticed a trend amongst our clients towards spending more time at home rather than travelling away for holidays.  This may be for health reasons, a wish to avoid tourist crowds or simply a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. Whatever the reas ..read more

Courtyards have a long history and a timeless appeal.  Over the centuries, these enclosed outdoor spaces have provided communities with places to gather, rest, work and play.  Nowadays, they are a popular feature in private gardens and public spaces too. Homeowners love the sense of sanctuary that courtyard gardens provide, and in public areas a courtyard can be a lovely place for a community to spend time together. In this blog post, I will share the design principles that I apply whenever working with such spaces.  I will also outline two case studies which demonstrate both pr ..read more

It is entirely possible to create a stunning shady garden.  With just a few simple design principles and ideas, you can brighten up the space and make it very inviting. The plants and trees will be a vitally important feature. Lower canopy trees can add volume to the space and connect the lower planting to any larger trees. Bulbs, ferns and other shade-loving plants all add texture and visual interest.  In the landscaping phase (if you are transforming an existing garden), existing trees may have been ‘thinned’ to allow light through.  This can give you the opportunity to re-use ..read more

A garden terrace fulfils a practical role, providing a level area for seating, socialising and/or enjoying a viewpoint. It often also provides a transition between the house and the rest of the garden. Usually paved, gravelled or composed of wooden decking, it provides an way of dealing with changing levels in the garden.  Sometimes steeply sloped gardens can benefit from more than one terrace; for example, a terrace may be situated at some distance from the house to resolve a change in levels and provide a different viewpoint. Over and above these practical considerations though, a well ..read more

The clocks have gone forward, the days are getting longer and it’s time to start looking forward to the summer months ahead. Maybe you are dreaming of relaxing on your own in the garden with a morning coffee, or socialising with friends around the barbecue.  Whatever your summer wishes are, your garden needs to be ready for outdoor living again. However, please don’t rush to create a super-tidy space!  Often this is not the best habitat for garden birds and insects.  For example, it’s a good idea to leave ornamental grasses and herbaceous plants as long as possible before cuttin ..read more

January has flown over here at The Garden Company and we are busy looking forward to the rest of 2023 – which is full of new opportunities, new projects and no doubt will bring new challenges too.  When we pause to look back to 2022, we feel that it was a ‘standout’ business year in various ways. As well as working on several exciting projects throughout the year, we also received wonderful recognition for our work and for our ethos as a business.  This included a Special BALI Award for Best Design-and-Build project, a Pro Landscaper Business Award in the Design-and-Build category, a ..read more

At The Garden Company, we have noticed a growing interest from our clients in including works of art in their garden space.  Whether a sculpture, metal work, painting, mirror, or even a repurposed household item, a well-chosen piece of garden art helps clients to engage with the garden and its wider setting.  This adds to an overall ‘sense of place’.  In this blog post, I would like to share my thoughts on the potential benefits of garden sculptures, along with providing guidance on selecting and placing sculptures for the best effect. Benefits of garden sculptures © Clive Nicho ..read more

There is much talk in the garden design world about the popularity of naturalistic garden styles and ‘rewilding’ outdoor spaces.  However, in our experience at The Garden Company, there is still a steady interest from many clients in more formal garden styles. Such designs have a timeless appeal.  They offer an elegant, refined ‘look and feel’. Formal gardens follow some simple design principles – outlined in this post – but they do not need to be sterile.  I love to add pollinator-friendly plants to complement the classic hedges and shrubs associated with formal gardens.  ..read more

The UK is home to an extraordinary variety of animals, birds and insects living in the wild.  Obviously, these creatures aren’t confined to the countryside alone.  In towns and villages, residential gardens can offer a wonderful haven in which local wildlife can feed, breed and shelter.  It’s estimated that the millions of gardens in Britain cover around 10 million acres, linked together into green ‘corridors’.  These link urban green spaces with the countryside and provide wildlife with a wide range of habitats.  Every garden and outdoor space – no matter the size – c ..read more

We have given ourselves a fresh new look to celebrate a special anniversary this year – 3 decades of bringing clients’ dreams to life! The world of garden design and build has changed a lot since we set up in 1991 with two people, one vehicle and a handful of clients.  Today, we have a highly skilled workforce of 20 people with industry-leading experience and craftmanship to offer.  Our track record of winning national awards is also a strength.  We have obviously adapted our ways of working through the decades, particularly in terms of technology, but what hasn’t changed is our ..read more