Although a walk in nature has long been an enjoyable pastime the art of forest bathing and the therapeutic benefits of nature is something which has only fairly recently been studied. Forest bathing originated in Japan in the 1980s, where it was given ...
I’ve recently returned from a holiday in Malta, having immersed myself in its stunning architecture, thinking about how far reaching the impact of nature is in design. As a self confessed nerd and Game of Thrones fan, I organised my own tour of the land marks in season one, including seeking out ...
Just imagine waking up feeling worse for wear after a big night out & finding every cup, plate & surface is dirty from the night before. You probably would return to bed and hide rather than reaching for the sun. Gardens are no different in this winter period. The start of a new year inevitably brings with ...
One of the fundamental garden design principles: right plant right place, is important because whatever you plant in your garden will effect everything else. Planting trees and tall shrubs will create dry conditions underneath; a pond will create moisture in the air; walls and hard paving create hot conditions; ...
One of the things I really enjoy about designing a new project is working together with the client to bring their vision to life. One of my current projects has been a new build property built on a brown field site with no established garden. There are always challenges inherent in the design process. The ...
One of the first questions I often get asked about garden design is how much will it cost. A very reasonable question as it’s important to have an idea of your budget at the beginning of the project. Each garden is different depending on its size & complexity. A variation in levels will mean there is ...
There is always a little thrill of anticipation for me when the days start to draw out. A reminder that in a world of uncertainties, you know where you are with the natural world. As sure as night follows day, out of Winter comes Spring. Changing weather patterns may be affecting the seasons but there is ...
There has certainly been an irritability in the weather lately. The late summer never really materialised amongst the downpours but we were rewarded with some spectacular rainbows. Changes in climate will challenge gardeners and designers alike as highlighted in the RHS report, Gardening in a changing climate, ...
The RHS recently published a report on the impact of climate change on our gardens & choice of planting. Having recently returned from a holiday in Italy with temperatures of 34 degrees it got me thinking about to what extent is this already influencing design choices. The aesthetic pleasing nature of ...
Dahlias might seem a bit old fashioned now and are not the first choice on many garden designer’s planting plans. But I’ve been thinking about planting some this month. It’s not just the numerous delicate petals that appeals to me, nor the fact single dahlias are a beacon for bees. It’s that they ...