HP Garden Design

BEAUTIFUL, LIVEABLE GARDENS

My aim is to design gardens that Clients want to spend time in.  Be it by creating space to relax in or, to ignite their interest in gardening and the natural world.

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 wherever possible and our gardens play an important role.

 I am also a great believer in the therapeutic value of gardens and the natural environment.

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

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, specializing in relationship management for hedge fund clients.  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 and rewarding.

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 accredited by the Association of Professional Landscapers, RHS Level 3 qualified and a member of The Gardeners Guild. 

I have also recently completed the CIRIA, Designing SuDs course for incorporating sustainable drainage into my designs.

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 new developments to keep up with.  This, along with my desire to provide my Clients with the best possible outcomes means I undertake regular CPD (continuous professional development) as well as attending industry events and training days. 

SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER

Within my garden design process I endeavour to:

• Prioritise longevity in design over fashions or 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 origin/transportation required 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 and we'll be sharing some of the steps we've taken in due course based on the following courses and frameworks:

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

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



CREATIVE,  RESPONSIBLE   DESIGN