Landscape
& Garden Design

*Rethinking a Garden Pond*

When we first visited this project, the garden already had a pond, and one that was worth holding onto. The idea was good, it just wasn’t quite working. No spot in the garden gave you a decent view of it, the proportions felt slightly off, and the materials around it didn’t sit comfortably with the house. So rather than starting from scratch, the design we created was about working out what to keep and what to change.

The deck was the first thing to address. The original was too large and it overwhelmed the water and blocked the view from inside the house. We designed a more considered version that was big enough to sit beside the water, yet modest enough to let it breathe. We also added a new viewpoint further into the garden, so the pond could be appreciated from more than one place. The upper pond was reshaped too, bringing the whole composition into better balance when seen both from the garden and from inside.

Moving between the two ponds had felt awkward before and that connection was resolved so the journey between them now feels natural.

The terrace closest to the house was rethought as well. It had become somewhere to hurry across rather than stop at, and any furniture placed there blocked the flow in and out of the house. Moving the seating to an area of the garden with better light transformed it from a dead zone into somewhere people actually want to be.

Materials were simplified throughout to work better with the house, and a trip hazard between the paving and the deck was resolved along the way. The planting was redesigned last, pulling everything together into something that finally feels like a cohesive whole.

#gardenpond #gardendesign #newforest ...

This little beauty is Lilium martagon `Arabian Night` — seen here exuding an aura of pure exoticism in our New Forest project.

We are completely captivated by its striking, swept-back petals, the deep orange-wine-burgundy richness of its colour, and those impossibly characterful freckles that dance across each bloom. There`s something almost jewel-like about it, as if it belongs in a Persian garden rather than an English setting.

We wove it into the matrix planting by the great Oaks that frame one side of the pool — a naturalistic tapestry where this martagon lily stands with vertical and effortless grace.

It thrives in exactly this kind of setting, with space to naturalise and quietly multiply year on year. A true gem of the summer garden.

#LiliumMartagon #ArabianNight #MartagónLily #GardenDesign #PlantingDesign #NewForest ...

These stunning candelabra primulas, prized for their tall tiered flower spikes, love consistent moisture, which makes them ideal for damp woodland gardens, moist borders and even bog gardens.

We chose them for a swale garden we created as part of a large country garden project in Hampshire. Planted on either side of a sinuous boardwalk, their glowing sunset colours create a wonderful display in early summer.

In these pictures, the Molinias are only just beginning to emerge. We rely on them to do the heavy lifting later in the season, carrying the planting scheme beautifully through the late summer months.

#PrimulaBulleyana #PrimulaBeesiana #CandelabraPrimula #BogGarden #WoodlandGarden #SwaleGarden #MoistureLovingPlants #GardenDesign #NaturalisticPlanting #PlantingDesign #CountryGarden #HampshireGarden #PerennialPlanting #PollinatorGarden ...

SUMMER HOUSES:

Whether used as a quiet retreat, workspace, studio or somewhere to gather with family and friends, the most successful summer houses feel fully connected to the garden around them.

Position, views, planting and the journey through the space all matter - helping the structure feel rooted in its setting rather than simply placed within it.

Here in our New Forest garden, the summer house is carefully positioned to look out across a small native wildflower meadow, creating a focal point at the end of the boardwalk as it crosses the bog garden. It’s a place to pause, watch the changing seasons and feel immersed in the landscape.

#summerhouse #gardenbuilding #summergarden #gardendesignideas #gardendesign #newforestgarden ...

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 ...