Landscape
& Garden Design

A fleeting visit to RHS Chelsea yesterday meant I didn’t manage to see everything, but it felt like a strong year with plenty to admire.

I loved Darren Hawkes’ garden for the Lady Garden Foundation - a beautifully considered space to wander and spend time in, with the thoughtful detailing and planting he does so well.

Baz Grainger’s Killik & Co Garden was a real triumph. A wonderful understanding of mass and void to shape space and atmosphere, combined with confident planting; while the quirky train gazebo on Max Parker Smith`s Journey Beyond the Tracks garden was inspired - you could almost feel the heat even on a cold grey May day in England.

Among the Balcony Gardens, Tales from the Riverbank by Susie Kennedy and Kate Henning was my favourite. There was something deeply inviting about it - a space I could imagine myself inhabiting, watering the pots and quietly tinkering away.

And finally, the Asthma and Lung UK Breathing Garden stayed with me. Calm, thoughtful and beautifully resolved, with a real sense of peace and generosity. I particularly enjoyed its blend of styles and influences - a different voice at Chelsea and all the more welcome for it.

Congratulations to everyone involved -Chelsea is always such an extraordinary celebration of creativity, planting and craftsmanship.

@darrenhawkeslandscapes
@thelandscapetailor
@maxparkersmith
@kennedys_gardendesignstudio
@katehenningplantingdesign
@angusthompson_design

#RHSChelsea2026 #RHSChelseaFlowerShow ...

Wishing everyone exhibiting at RHS Chelsea this week the very best of luck.

These images are from my Chelsea garden in 2019 - a week I’ll always remember for the extraordinary creativity, collaboration and sheer hard work that goes into bringing a show garden to life.

To all the designers, contractors, growers, sponsors and teams working behind the scenes this week - I hope you take a moment to feel proud of what you’ve created. Chelsea is always such a celebration of horticulture, craftsmanship and the power of gardens to inspire.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

Images by @richardbloomphoto

#RHSChelsea2026 #RHSChelseaFlowerShow ...

​A​s well as softening a garden​, planting can completely define how a space is experienced​, felt and used.

In this coastal garden, a line of mature olives gently softens the long driveway and helps define the structure of the site, while carefully placed trees provide screening and a sense of enclosure.

Seating areas are positioned to follow the light through the day,​ each enclosed by immersive planting to create distinct atmospheres and beautiful views from both the house and garden.

Photographs copyright @josmondphoto

#GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #CoastalGarden #GardenInspiration #LandscapeDesign #OutdoorLiving #MediterraneanGarden #OliveTrees #GardenIdeas #ContemporaryGarden ...

-AI-generated garden design-

The debate has raised its head again. I wanted to share some thoughts from an interview I gave to @homesandgardensofficial magazine a few months ago...

Most people will only be involved in the design of one or two gardens in their lifetimes. Working out what the garden must ‘do’ and how it should look is a daunting task. Clients often arrive with a long list of things that must be included. As conversations develop we frequently discover that the ‘must’ is more of a ‘maybe’, a list given initially to ensure that nothing is ruled out.

Developing a design brief is a critical first step. Creating a process where clients can add ideas, thoughts, and feelings is essential and people are much better at this than machines can ever be. Communication is often nuanced. How something is said can be just as important as the words themselves. Clients will often give apparently contradictory lists of things they like or don’t like and it is up to the designer to explore this in order to strengthen the brief.

Over time the layouts created by AI will no doubt improve. That is not a given though. Machine learning has to be based on something and AI will need to use the work of designers as a foundation, whether that is plans or photographs of gardens. Drone photography is a valuable resource for AI companies seeking to profit from the training and expertise of others and to date I am not aware of anyone being paid for this use of information.

The best gardens have a strong sense of place. They work with the local vernacular and are anchored in their community. A machine would need not only an advanced understanding of design but also considerable geographic and site knowledge to achieve the same results. Soil conditions, drainage, wind exposure, topography, and neighbouring landscapes all have a profound impact on design decisions. The list of considerations is extensive.

To sum up, design is not just data. It is listening, interpreting, and creating spaces with empathy, experience, and a genuine sense of place.

photos @richardbloomphoto

#designedbyhumans ...

Rain garden is a term that we are likely to hear more of – the idea is to sculpt the garden to hold water and slow its passage – often creating ditches to be able to hold a larger volume of water. Much of the New Forest, where I live, has used this technique for generations. You create a shallow area in your garden that receives run-off from roofs or gutters and plant it with plants that can withstand waterlogging, with more drought-tolerant choices at the margins. We sometimes introduce linking elements such as a a rain chain, water butt or pond in our projects.

Pictured here is a a rain chain I designed for a garden project in Poole. It was created to channel rainwater from the roof to a gravel bed - a beautiful yet functional element that adds so much character to a garden.

The second image shows a large swale — a shallow, planted dip designed to catch and hold rainwater - that we created for clients. It collects runoff from surrounding surfaces, giving the water a place to pause rather than rush away. The level rises and falls with the weather, slowly releasing water through the soil on the lower side of the garden.

#raingarden #rainchain #watergarden ...

Creating a true connection between house and garden isn’t just about layout—it’s about craftsmanship, repetition, and the subtle cues that tie everything together.

For this listed property, we looked closely at an original gothic arch window and reinterpreted its form into a series of bespoke gates. Every curve, proportion, and join was carefully considered, echoing the language of the building in a way that feels both intentional and effortless.

The result is a garden that doesn’t just sit alongside the house, but feels intrinsically part of it.

When it comes to design, it’s often the smallest decisions that make the biggest difference.

#GardenDesign #Craftsmanship #DetailMatters #bespokedesign ...

Perched high above the valley, this reimagined home is a bold architectural response to its surroundings - designed by architect @katestoddardltd - it rises in layered forms, reaching out toward the woodland beyond.

Working in tandem from the outset, our design sought to complement and complete this vision - softening the dialogue between structure and landscape rather than competing with it.

The result is a series of flowing terraces that mirror the home’s shifting geometry, stepping gently down the slope and anchoring the building into its setting.

Each layer creates its own atmosphere, spaces to pause, gather, and take in the view, while carefully considered planting brings cohesion, movement, and a sense of calm to the whole composition.

Completed in Autumn 2025, this garden marks the final chapter of the project, a carefully crafted “soft landing” where architecture and nature meet in balance.

Built by @bluefishlandscaping

#GardenDesign #ModernGarden #LandscapeArchitecture #TerracedGarden #DesignCollaboration #OutdoorLiving ...