Call:
023 8178 2660
Email:
webenquiry@elks-smith.co.uk

Landscape
& Garden Design

About

Great gardens should be both beautiful and functional and we have the creative flair and expertise, coupled with extensive horticultural knowledge to ensure your space will work for you. We provide a comprehensive garden design service and can manage your project from the initial design stages right through to completion. We are also experienced at working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and we have a network of industry experts, such as lighting designers, water specialists and engineers, that we can call on as the project requires.

Our studio is based in the New Forest in Hampshire. We design gardens for private clients from across the South Coast, the Home Counties and London, covering a wide area that includes Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Kent. We also work with architects and property developers designing residential, public and commercial projects.

Find Out More

Portfolio

See More

Instagram

elkssmith

1,129 29,907

Award-winning practice led by Helen Elks-Smith, creating beautiful gardens. Speaker, writer, SGLD Fellow & Judge. ‘Your Garden Made Perfect’ designer.

Mature olive trees are a brilliant way to create structure and subtle separation in a garden.

Here, they do more than anchor the planting — their lifted canopies form a soft divide between spaces. Instead of hard boundaries or walls, they gently define areas while still allowing views and movement through the garden.

The silver foliage catches the light beautifully, contrasting with the deeper greens below, and the sculptural trunks bring instant character and a sense of permanence.

A simple, elegant way to shape space — without closing it off.

Photo by @j.osmond.gardens

#GardenDesign #OliveTrees #OutdoorRooms #GardenStructure

93 0
Open post by elkssmith with ID 17872672614544043
Mature olive trees are a brilliant way to create structure and subtle separation in a garden. Here, they do more than anchor the planting — their lifted canopies form a soft divide between spaces. Instead of hard boundaries or walls, they gently define areas while still allowing views and movement through the garden. The silver foliage catches the light beautifully, contrasting with the deeper greens below, and the sculptural trunks bring instant character and a sense of permanence. A simple, elegant way to shape space — without closing it off. Photo by @j.osmond.gardens #GardenDesign #OliveTrees #OutdoorRooms #GardenStructure

...

93 0

Early spring flowers do more than lift our spirits. They are essential nectar sources for insects as they wake from the winter.

Planting snowdrops `in the green`, while they are actively growing rather than dormant, helps them to establish more reliably meaning they have a better chance of settling, multiplying and being there next year to continue supporting our insects.

#springgarden #wintergarden #biodiversity #biodiversegarden #snowdrops

56 0
Open post by elkssmith with ID 18094422524476784
Early spring flowers do more than lift our spirits. They are essential nectar sources for insects as they wake from the winter. Planting snowdrops 'in the green', while they are actively growing rather than dormant, helps them to establish more reliably meaning they have a better chance of settling, multiplying and being there next year to continue supporting our insects. #springgarden #wintergarden #biodiversity #biodiversegarden #snowdrops

...

56 0

A little garden design masterclass 🌿

When I start a project, I always ask:
What’s the star of the show?

It might be the house.
It might be a tree.
It might even be a single moment in the garden.

In this case, it was the wider landscape — long, beautiful views stretching out beyond the site.

But here’s the problem: just because a view exists doesn’t mean you feel connected to it.

In the original layout, the foreground was doing too much. Competing shapes. A circular raised bed right in the centre. Your eye landed there… then bounced to the buildings… and stayed trapped. The distant view — the real star — never quite got its moment.

So we simplified the composition.

- We reshaped the built elements to echo the architecture.
- We positioned a pond in the foreground to draw the eye across.
- The two buildings now work as a pair — gently framing the scene.
- And a soft curve in the path leads you outward, almost without you noticing.

Nothing shouts. Nothing competes.
The eye moves naturally. Calmly.

I often hear, “You’re lucky to work with such great views.” And yes, I am. But good design isn’t about luck — it’s about deciding what matters most and making sure everything else supports it.

Gardens still need places to sit. To gather. Water to soften the space. Structure and intimacy. The work is in making all of that coexist without stealing the spotlight.

#beforeandafter #gardendesign #gardensolution #designsolutions #gardenideas

100 3
Open post by elkssmith with ID 18083736677261707
A little garden design masterclass 🌿 When I start a project, I always ask: What’s the star of the show? It might be the house. It might be a tree. It might even be a single moment in the garden. In this case, it was the wider landscape — long, beautiful views stretching out beyond the site. But here’s the problem: just because a view exists doesn’t mean you feel connected to it. In the original layout, the foreground was doing too much. Competing shapes. A circular raised bed right in the centre. Your eye landed there… then bounced to the buildings… and stayed trapped. The distant view — the real star — never quite got its moment. So we simplified the composition. - We reshaped the built elements to echo the architecture. - We positioned a pond in the foreground to draw the eye across. - The two buildings now work as a pair — gently framing the scene. - And a soft curve in the path leads you outward, almost without you noticing. Nothing shouts. Nothing competes. The eye moves naturally. Calmly. I often hear, “You’re lucky to work with such great views.” And yes, I am. But good design isn’t about luck — it’s about deciding what matters most and making sure everything else supports it. Gardens still need places to sit. To gather. Water to soften the space. Structure and intimacy. The work is in making all of that coexist without stealing the spotlight. #beforeandafter #gardendesign #gardensolution #designsolutions #gardenideas

...

100 3

I love using sculpture outdoors — a garden gives it movement, light, and life that an interior can’t. The piece becomes part of a living composition rather than something simply placed against a wall.

A well-placed piece can become a focal point that draws you through the garden and it can add structure and presence, especially in winter. It also provides a wonderful contrast, with the hard form again soft planting.

When I’m introducing sculpture into a scheme, I prefer to design a position for it right from the outset. That way, it feels anchored and intentional, not an afterthought. I then work closely with my client to find the right piece. Sculptors are wonderful collaborators — they see space and movement differently, which is always refreshing.

Pictured here is a beautiful piece by @judetuckersculpture, weathering gracefully in this contemporary country garden we designed. It transforms this small courtyard — catching the light, casting shadows, and making the space sing in every season.

Would you add sculpture to your garden?

#sculpture
#artinthegarden
#gardendesign
#courtyardgarden
#designingwithsculpture
gardendesignhampshire
designideas
gardendesignideas

75 4
Open post by elkssmith with ID 17903124804369805
I love using sculpture outdoors — a garden gives it movement, light, and life that an interior can’t. The piece becomes part of a living composition rather than something simply placed against a wall. A well-placed piece can become a focal point that draws you through the garden and it can add structure and presence, especially in winter. It also provides a wonderful contrast, with the hard form again soft planting. When I’m introducing sculpture into a scheme, I prefer to design a position for it right from the outset. That way, it feels anchored and intentional, not an afterthought. I then work closely with my client to find the right piece. Sculptors are wonderful collaborators — they see space and movement differently, which is always refreshing. Pictured here is a beautiful piece by @judetuckersculpture, weathering gracefully in this contemporary country garden we designed. It transforms this small courtyard — catching the light, casting shadows, and making the space sing in every season. Would you add sculpture to your garden? #sculpture #artinthegarden #gardendesign #courtyardgarden #designingwithsculpture gardendesignhampshire designideas gardendesignideas

...

75 4

A reminder that it`s rose pruning season. It doesn`t matter how you do it, whether you do it with secateurs or whether you borrow Fred.

In the wild, plants like this would always have been grazed, shaped and kept in balance by animals. Last year Fred gave this rose the most beautiful natural structure — open, airy and full of strong bones.

A reminder that sometimes the most traditional methods are also the most intuitive.

#horses #roses #pruning #gardening

63 9
Open post by elkssmith with ID 18097146880822560
A reminder that it's rose pruning season. It doesn't matter how you do it, whether you do it with secateurs or whether you borrow Fred. In the wild, plants like this would always have been grazed, shaped and kept in balance by animals. Last year Fred gave this rose the most beautiful natural structure — open, airy and full of strong bones. A reminder that sometimes the most traditional methods are also the most intuitive. #horses #roses #pruning #gardening

...

63 9

Midweek Masterclass | Week Four

Pools absolutely need to be safe — and that often means fencing or a pool cover that’s fully safe to walk on. But how those safety elements are integrated makes all the difference.

This project shows why thoughtful placement matters. When a fence cuts straight through a space, it can unintentionally create a sense of separation — even discouraging you from using the pool at all.

By relocating the fence to a more sensitive position, we have retained enclosure and safety while allowing the pool, planting and seating areas to feel visually and functionally connected.

The result is a pool house garden that feels welcoming — somewhere you genuinely want to spend time, not just pass through.

It’s also worth remembering that for much of the year pools are covered, with none of that beautiful reflective water surface. Carefully considered planting between the pool and relaxed seating helps soften the presence of the cover, ensuring the garden still feels rich, calm and inviting — even on days when swimming isn’t on the agenda.

#GardenMasterclass #LandscapeDesign #GardenDesign #DesignProcess #PlantingDesign #HardAndSoftLandscape #PoolGarden #DesignDetails

24 0
Open post by elkssmith with ID 18377296087092584
Midweek Masterclass | Week Four Pools absolutely need to be safe — and that often means fencing or a pool cover that’s fully safe to walk on. But how those safety elements are integrated makes all the difference. This project shows why thoughtful placement matters. When a fence cuts straight through a space, it can unintentionally create a sense of separation — even discouraging you from using the pool at all. By relocating the fence to a more sensitive position, we have retained enclosure and safety while allowing the pool, planting and seating areas to feel visually and functionally connected. The result is a pool house garden that feels welcoming — somewhere you genuinely want to spend time, not just pass through. It’s also worth remembering that for much of the year pools are covered, with none of that beautiful reflective water surface. Carefully considered planting between the pool and relaxed seating helps soften the presence of the cover, ensuring the garden still feels rich, calm and inviting — even on days when swimming isn’t on the agenda. #GardenMasterclass #LandscapeDesign #GardenDesign #DesignProcess #PlantingDesign #HardAndSoftLandscape #PoolGarden #DesignDetails

...

24 0

Midweek Masterclass | Week Three

Continuing my mini masterclass series, where I`m looking at the transformation of a pool garden in Hampshire — re-imagining the landscape around the house and the pool house.

🌿 The problem - the built elements were originally out of balance with the planting. The plants had little connection to the surrounding trees, and the clash of styles created tension — something we usually want to avoid. This pool garden needed to work with its wider landscape, not fight it.   
🌿 The solution  - The design solution was subtle but powerful. The same plants were used again in containers — this time for their form. Their structure echoes the tree canopy beyond, visually drawing the surrounding landscape into the garden and softening the relationship between hard and soft elements.

This is where balance really matters. When hard and soft landscape are in tune, each space feels calm and connected. Views gently invite you onward, rather than pulling you too forcefully. Get that balance wrong, and those connections become demanding, creating restlessness instead of ease.

#GardenMasterclass #LandscapeDesign #GardenDesign #DesignProcess #PlantingDesign #HardAndSoftLandscape #PoolGarden #DesignDetails

37 0
Open post by elkssmith with ID 17868444690552289
Midweek Masterclass | Week Three Continuing my mini masterclass series, where I'm looking at the transformation of a pool garden in Hampshire — re-imagining the landscape around the house and the pool house. 🌿 The problem - the built elements were originally out of balance with the planting. The plants had little connection to the surrounding trees, and the clash of styles created tension — something we usually want to avoid. This pool garden needed to work with its wider landscape, not fight it.    🌿 The solution  - The design solution was subtle but powerful. The same plants were used again in containers — this time for their form. Their structure echoes the tree canopy beyond, visually drawing the surrounding landscape into the garden and softening the relationship between hard and soft elements. This is where balance really matters. When hard and soft landscape are in tune, each space feels calm and connected. Views gently invite you onward, rather than pulling you too forcefully. Get that balance wrong, and those connections become demanding, creating restlessness instead of ease. #GardenMasterclass #LandscapeDesign #GardenDesign #DesignProcess #PlantingDesign #HardAndSoftLandscape #PoolGarden #DesignDetails

...

37 0

Excited to catch up with friends and colleagues at the @the_SGLD Awards Ceremony this Friday!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of this year’s judging panel with a brilliant group of fellow judges.

Good luck to all the shortlisted designers — some outstanding work this year!

#sgld #sgldawards #gardendesignawards

67 1
Open post by elkssmith with ID 18337025329242739
Excited to catch up with friends and colleagues at the @the_SGLD Awards Ceremony this Friday! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of this year’s judging panel with a brilliant group of fellow judges. Good luck to all the shortlisted designers — some outstanding work this year! #sgld #sgldawards #gardendesignawards

...

67 1