Making a garden is a deeply creative, personal and enriching experience, and in many ways, the process of making is never-ending. Indeed, the passing of time is a key part of the evolution of  both your garden and your role within it. Because through time you will see and feel your garden grow and discover its soul. You will learn the best and most sympathetic way of shaping the landscape to make it as beautiful and healthy as it can be. You will collaborate with Mother Nature herself. 

As a professional gardener and maker of gardens of almost 20 years, Ben, The Constant Gardener, nurtures this relationship with all the gardens he works with, and remembers the many gardens of his past as if they are old friends. When it comes to your garden, Ben’s aim is to enable you to achieve that same connection. This starts with a walk through your garden and a conversation about what you want your garden to be. And because no garden is ever a blank canvas, we will also establish what parts of the landscape we can work with and what areas need obvious intervention.

Being a dedicated and skilled gardener first and foremost, at this stage Ben may also carry out some work on the existing plantscape, which will help you see what you already have from a different perspective, and help us decide what stays and what goes.

Then we move onto the exciting part - designing your garden. Initially we will focus on basic layout, style and mood, and discuss key materials and plants. The first drawings you receive will be 2D sketches, and alongside these Ben will create a simple moodboard to more clearly convey his ideas. The purpose of this phase is to explore different styles and layouts using broad strokes, and to ascertain how we design a garden that sits well within the surrounding landscape and contains all the elements you desire . Through this phase we will learn what works for you and what ideas we can develop further.

 In the final part of the design process Ben will produce a 3D model of your new garden and a construction plan. The 3D model goes into more detail and allows you to really see the design and how the materials and plants combine and relate to one another from all angles. Finding the right scale (human scale) is hugely important when designing a garden, and a 3D model is a very useful way of visualising all aspects of your new garden. The construction plan is for the landscapers.

 In the end, no matter the layout, style, materials and overall design of the landscape, it is the planting that elevates a garden beyond the superficial and into the spiritual. Beyond the mundane and into the soulful. 

Above all, in order to produce a planting design, Ben requires time (generally, a bit more time than is needed to create the landscape design). Time to find inspiration. Time to cultivate ideas and let them percolate. Time to discuss the many ideas he’ll have with you. Time to create the perfect planting design for your garden. 

At the end of the design process you will have everything you need to start making your garden. Onwards!

Ben is also a landscaper, and is there to assist and guide you through this process too. Tendering out to landscapers (we have our preferences, or it could be Ben himself), producing a fully costed and scheduled project plan, procurement of key materials and plants, managing logistics and taking care of all aspects relating to the creation of your garden.

And so, to summarise: 

Establishing a brief - No fee

  • On-site meeting to discuss clients needs, timescale, budget etc

Evaluating the plot and initial design ideas - £350 + (Depending on size and complexity of site to be surveyed)

  • Full site survey to include measured drawings, soil samples and assessment of existing plantscape and landscape features

  • Initial 2D design concepts, supplied with material and specimen planting mood boards 

Creating the final design - approx. £1350 per 100sqm

  • Client meeting to refine ideas

  • Full 3D digital model of garden design provided with short animation to show key viewpoints

  • Detailed material, landscape and plant mood boards

  • Key material and plant sourcing

  • Construction and planting plan

Next Steps….

Project Management and Implementation - £POA

  • Oversee landscaping, materials and plants procurement

  • Fully costed and scheduled project plan

  • Manage all aspects relating to implementation of agreed design.