Treading Lightly

When I'm choosing materials or thinking about water flow/drainage, I'm always looking for the lightest touch. Things that have already been used before. Surfaces that let rain soak back into the soil instead of rushing off into drains. It's about being thoughtful with what we've got.

Making Room for Life

I love seeing bees working through a garden, or hearing birds in the morning. I endeavour to design gardens that create an environment for wildlife to thrive, and that are sympathetic to the local surroundings. I prefer planting to be natural, beautiful and comfortable in the Peak District. It can be structured or wild, but should be carefully chosen to match our environment, soil and your preferences.

The Beauty That's Already Here

I really like using native plants and plants that are resilient and happy in our local environment. The careful slection of plants is importent for habitats, wildlife and creating succesion and year-round interest. Gardens should be colourful, beautiful and relatively low maintenance. Most gardens and planting require some input, but they can be designed to thrive without too much effort.

Gardening for the Weather We're Getting

Summers are getting hotter and drier. So I think about drought-tolerant plants, catching rainwater when it does come, building gardens that can handle what gets thrown at them. I want to make gardens that'll still be thriving in ten years.

Because It Makes You Feel Better

I notice how I feel in different gardens - some just make you want to sit down and breathe properly. When I'm designing, I think about where you'll actually want to be, what it feels like to be in that space. Gardens should give you a reason to step outside.

I'm not trying to save the world with gardens. I'm just trying to make a small difference where I can. If that means a garden uses less water, gives bees somewhere to go, and makes you feel calmer when you're in it - well, that feels like enough.