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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.

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elkssmith

1,170 30,665

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

HOW TO CREATE A SUMMER GARDEN 

Trees and large shrubs can play an important role in summer gardens, creating cooling shade, softening the intensity of the sun and making outdoor spaces far more comfortable to enjoy.

Many small trees and large shrubs respond well to pruning and can be positioned close to seating areas, allowing you to carefully manage the amount of shade they cast.

For sun-trap gardens, choose species that thrive in full sun and cope with drier conditions. Olive trees are a wonderful option, while Southern catalpa, eucalyptus and honey locust can also work beautifully.

And if space is limited, don’t overlook the impact of planting trees in generous containers - in this garden, olive trees planted in large pots around the dining terrace help soften the full strength of the sun while adding structure and atmosphere.

#summergarden #summergardentips #shadygarden #gardentrees #gardendesigner

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 17864135739688317
HOW TO CREATE A SUMMER GARDEN  Trees and large shrubs can play an important role in summer gardens, creating cooling shade, softening the intensity of the sun and making outdoor spaces far more comfortable to enjoy. Many small trees and large shrubs respond well to pruning and can be positioned close to seating areas, allowing you to carefully manage the amount of shade they cast. For sun-trap gardens, choose species that thrive in full sun and cope with drier conditions. Olive trees are a wonderful option, while Southern catalpa, eucalyptus and honey locust can also work beautifully. And if space is limited, don’t overlook the impact of planting trees in generous containers - in this garden, olive trees planted in large pots around the dining terrace help soften the full strength of the sun while adding structure and atmosphere. #summergarden #summergardentips #shadygarden #gardentrees #gardendesigner

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With weather this hot, an outdoor shower is the perfect garden accessory. And not just for cooling down. It’s also brilliantly practical for muddy dogs or sand-covered children straight from the beach.

We specified this one for a project in Poole, where it sits beautifully within the coastal planting scheme while earning its keep all summer long.

#OutdoorShower #GardenDesign #CoastalGarden #PooleGarden #gardeninspiration

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18071761748662114
With weather this hot, an outdoor shower is the perfect garden accessory. And not just for cooling down. It’s also brilliantly practical for muddy dogs or sand-covered children straight from the beach. We specified this one for a project in Poole, where it sits beautifully within the coastal planting scheme while earning its keep all summer long. #OutdoorShower #GardenDesign #CoastalGarden #PooleGarden #gardeninspiration

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Soft movement, seasonal colour and naturalistic planting.

This is the swale garden we created as part of a large scale project in Brockenhurst. It was designed with sweeping drifts of geum and iris to create a rich tapestry of texture and colour throughout late spring and early summer.

#brockenhurst #gardendesign

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18105682513758324
Soft movement, seasonal colour and naturalistic planting. This is the swale garden we created as part of a large scale project in Brockenhurst. It was designed with sweeping drifts of geum and iris to create a rich tapestry of texture and colour throughout late spring and early summer. #brockenhurst #gardendesign

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More thoughts on AI and garden design....

One of my biggest concerns about AI in design is understanding exactly what it is learning from.

Machine learning has to be based on something and AI systems will inevitably rely on the work of garden designers as a foundation, whether that is plans, photographs, aerial images, or plant lists. The question is whether the people who created that work have knowingly agreed to it being used in this way.

AI can only improve by learning from existing creative work, much of which is copyrighted. In the UK we have strong copyright laws that are generally well defended, but could we realistically prove that our work is being used in this way and challenge it?

As designers we need to think carefully about what we publish now and in the future. Sharing projects, explaining our thinking, and showing completed gardens has always been an important part of winning new work. At the same time, publishing potentially allows that work to be absorbed into AI systems without consent, acknowledgement, or payment.

Drone photography in particular is a valuable resource for AI companies seeking to profit from the training and expertise of others. To date I am not aware of anyone in the garden design industry being approached and asked permission for their work to be used in this way.

As designers we need to be aware of what is happening with our data and our work. Who is monitoring what AI systems are using and how that information is being gathered? These are questions we should all be asking.

#designedbyhumans

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 18125286946616674
More thoughts on AI and garden design.... One of my biggest concerns about AI in design is understanding exactly what it is learning from. Machine learning has to be based on something and AI systems will inevitably rely on the work of garden designers as a foundation, whether that is plans, photographs, aerial images, or plant lists. The question is whether the people who created that work have knowingly agreed to it being used in this way. AI can only improve by learning from existing creative work, much of which is copyrighted. In the UK we have strong copyright laws that are generally well defended, but could we realistically prove that our work is being used in this way and challenge it? As designers we need to think carefully about what we publish now and in the future. Sharing projects, explaining our thinking, and showing completed gardens has always been an important part of winning new work. At the same time, publishing potentially allows that work to be absorbed into AI systems without consent, acknowledgement, or payment. Drone photography in particular is a valuable resource for AI companies seeking to profit from the training and expertise of others. To date I am not aware of anyone in the garden design industry being approached and asked permission for their work to be used in this way. As designers we need to be aware of what is happening with our data and our work. Who is monitoring what AI systems are using and how that information is being gathered? These are questions we should all be asking. #designedbyhumans

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Lovely view across my garden this morning, with the Euphorbias providing their annual burst of acid green and the spring planting beginning to knit together into a soft, immersive landscape.  

#mygarden #springgarden #newforestgarden

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 17887776039524463
Lovely view across my garden this morning, with the Euphorbias providing their annual burst of acid green and the spring planting beginning to knit together into a soft, immersive landscape.   #mygarden #springgarden #newforestgarden

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Next month an incredible team of supporters will begin their climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of @greenfingerscharity.

Every step they take will help raise funds for a new garden at Naomi House & Jack’s Place in Winchester - a project I feel incredibly privileged to be designing.

The garden is being created as a place of calm, discovery and comfort for children with life-limiting conditions, their families and the hospice team. At its heart will be a fully accessible cabin surrounded by planting and spaces to play, explore and simply spend time together outdoors.

With the climb fast approaching, every donation really will help bring this special garden to life.

A huge thank you to everyone taking part in this extraordinary challenge and to all those supporting them along the way.

For anyone wishing to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/greenfingers-kilimanjaro2026

#GreenfingersCharity #Kilimanjaro #GardenDesign #HealingGardens #NaomiHouse #ChildrensHospice #Fundraising

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Open post by elkssmith with ID 17880218199576262
Next month an incredible team of supporters will begin their climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of @greenfingerscharity. Every step they take will help raise funds for a new garden at Naomi House & Jack’s Place in Winchester - a project I feel incredibly privileged to be designing. The garden is being created as a place of calm, discovery and comfort for children with life-limiting conditions, their families and the hospice team. At its heart will be a fully accessible cabin surrounded by planting and spaces to play, explore and simply spend time together outdoors. With the climb fast approaching, every donation really will help bring this special garden to life. A huge thank you to everyone taking part in this extraordinary challenge and to all those supporting them along the way. For anyone wishing to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/greenfingers-kilimanjaro2026 #GreenfingersCharity #Kilimanjaro #GardenDesign #HealingGardens #NaomiHouse #ChildrensHospice #Fundraising

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