Landscape
& Garden Design

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 ...

A well-designed entrance sets the tone and shapes the journey through a garden space, drawing you in and hinting at what lies beyond.

In a space this scale, where every plant earns its place, restraint and intention matter most. Here we’ve combined texture, form, and seasonal interest to create a calm, welcoming approach that feels alive with fresh Spring colour right now!

#entrancegarden #springgarden #plantingideas #plantingdesign #gardendesign ...

Gardens are never still.

As designers, we may ‘start’ a garden, but every garden needs gardening. However light the touch, even the most carefully composed planting schemes will shift, grow, compete, and fall out of balance over time.

That’s the beauty of it. What we create isn’t static, it’s alive.

Intervention is inevitable. The question is not if, but how much. That depends on how well the plants coexist, the sensitivity and skill of the gardener, and the vision guiding each decision.

A garden is a collaboration between design and time. It is constantly evolving and never truly ‘finished’.

#GardenDesign #LivingLandscapes #PlantingDesign #GardeningLife #DesignInNature ...