HP Garden Design

BEAUTIFUL, LIVEABLE GARDENS

Not only do I want to design beautiful gardens for my Clients, my aim is to help them make better informed decisions about what they put in their gardens.
By creating more sustainable and climate resilient spaces, they can be enjoyed and, contribute to biodiversity and the environment, for years to come.

The concept that we are all part of the same ecological system is an important influence on my design process.  Now, more than ever, it's crucial to make space for nature and consider the future impact of the choices we make wherever possible.

Gardens and green spaces are an important part of that along with the therapeutic value they can provide.

With this in mind, I am passionate about helping people get the most out of their outdoor space.

For me, garden design is a perfect combination of creative problem solving and communicating my ideas to Clients through my drawings.  All my work is hand drafted which gives me a real connection to the spaces I work with and the designs I create.

HOW I GOT HERE

My parents were keen gardeners and as a child I loved growing and building stuff and watching wildlife.  I studied Economics at The University of Nottingham (via a brief spell at art college) and spent a decade in the City. It was an interesting and challenging period and, while it was a formative experience, I always knew I ultimately wanted to do something more creative, rewarding and aligned with nature.

Moving to rural Northamptonshire in 2010 I focused on family and studying.  Taking my RHS qualifications and volunteering with organisations specialising in horticultural therapy, gave me the impetus to set up

HP Garden Design.

Since 2019 I have designed gardens across the UK for private individuals, schools and charity spaces and I love seeing the positive impact these places have on the people who use them.

PROFESSIONAL

I am a Member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, accredited by the Association of Professional Landscapers, RHS Level 3 qualified and a member of The Gardeners Guild. 

I have completed the CIRIA, Designing SuDs course and I am keen to incorporate the principles of sustainable drainage in my designs wherever possible.

More information about the APL and the accreditation process can be found here:

  https://www.landscaper.org.uk/about-us/why-choose-an-apl-member

The garden design and landscaping industry is constantly evolving to meet new challenges and there is always something new to learn and developments to keep up with.  I undertake regular CPD (continuous professional development) to provide my Clients with the best possible outcomes as well as attending industry events and training days. 

SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER

Within my garden design process I endeavour to:

• Prioritise longevity in design over trends.
• Consider the balance of hard and soft landscaping, prioritising the use of permeable surface options and planting over paving, where possible.
• Suggest options to recycle and reuse materials on site.
• Consider the sustainability of new materials: Provenance and transportation as well as carbon calculations relating to manufacturing/extraction requirements.  Consider alternatives to high input materials where feasible.
• Promote sustainability in planting with a 'Right Plant Right Place' approach: Reducing required future inputs and intervention, factoring in potential climate adjustments.
• Increase biodiversity on site, also accounting for original site conditions.
• Encourage the active inclusion of ‘natural’ spaces within gardens to support wildlife and promote a healthy local ecosystem.
• Consider the use and cycle of water on site, providing opportunities for collection, recycling and attenuation where possible.

Like lots of small businesses we're trying to understand better how we can minimise our impact on the planet by making better informed decisions - about what we do and how we go about doing it.

It's a work in progress but we're trying to:

Print less, have online meetings where possible, use electricity from renewable sources.

Some of the steps we're taking are based on the following courses and frameworks:

https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/green-skills-for-small-business-workshops

https://alpha.small99.co.uk/

CREATIVE,  RESPONSIBLE   DESIGN