Pro Landscaper Outdoor Living Special 2025

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OUTDOOR LIVING SPECIAL

FROM DOWN UNDER

LET’S HEAR IT FROM Formosa Landscapes on launching a new venture

TV and t eamwork

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN

Collaboration is key for those stepping into the product side

Garden designer Lucy Willcox talks

Simple Systems

READ OUR BLOG FOR TIPS ON HOW TO EASILY INCLUDE LIGHTING, IRRIGATION & WATER FEATURES IN YOUR NEXT PROJECT

Welcome

The outdoor living boom shows no signs of abating – and it’s not just brands that are set to boost their profits. Collaborating with their suppliers is opening up a whole other revenue stream for landscapers and garden designers.

Take Lucy Willcox (page 7), who’s working with Hudson Lighting on a new product range. The award-winning garden designer has also partnered with online retailer Crocus to make it easier to purchase the planting scheme in her own garden.

Then there’s the growing number of companies partnering with brands to sell their products and setting up showrooms (page 21). Walker Landscape & Garden Design adopted this approach a few years ago, and its outdoor living arm now accounts for nearly half of its turnover. Many others are following suit, from Formosa Landscapes (page 14) to Consilium Hortus (page 28).

There are bigger margins to start with, and designers and landscapers can offer a full turnkey service, leaving clients happy with a finished garden.

It’s not for everyone, though – and there are plenty of pitfalls. As those behind these companies explain in the following pages, your core business must be strong before you divert attention elsewhere. The market is big enough for competition, but outdoor living is not a quick win.

Take advice from those finding success, plus tips for small outdoor spaces, inspiration from stunning portfolios, and predictions on this year’s bestsellers – all in our latest Outdoor Living Special!

The Pro Landscaper Team

Top Tips for Smaller Spaces

Experts advice for smaller gardens

Feature: Lucy Willcox Award-winning designer talks about building successful partnerships

From Down Under –Formosa Landscapes

Neal Harrington expands outdoor living inspired by global trends

Bringing the Outdoors In Outdoor living –a rewarding challenge

Winding Rocks

Julia Keem’s guide to tropical planting

The Age of the Outdoor Kitchen

Samuel Moore shares how to smoothly integrate a kitchen into a design 04 07 14 21 26 28 31 35 41 47 51

Outdoor Therapy

Rachel Goozee Garden & Planting Design

A Warm Welcome

Victoria Truman Garden Design

Pawsome & Practical

Sarah Kay Garden Design

Top Products for 2025

The predicted bestsellers for the year ahead

Life/Style – Freddie Strickland Award-winning garden designer talks about south-west inspiration and mentorship

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Top Tips for SMALLER SPACES

Experts put forward their design advice for making the most of smaller gardens

“It’s key to make the most of vertical space in a small garden. Consider adding a mini pergola to grow plants up and over and utilise wall space for greenery by installing a trellis or hanging planters. This approach increases planting options without taking up valuable floor space.

For our RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden, ‘Room to Breathe Hospital Garden for the TSA’ – which measures just three metres by four metres – we focused on optimising planting space while creating a cosy, enclosed feel. To achieve this, we have angled the pergola and pathway and suspended a chair in the space, enhancing the intimate atmosphere.”

jendonnellygardendesign.co.uk

CATHERINE GIBBON | Botanique Gardens

“To make a small garden feel bigger, use cool colours like blue and purple for depth, while red and orange bring elements forward. In the ‘Room to Breathe’ container garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, we used white and burgundy for contrast and a sense of calm. Keep the planting palette simple, repeating plants for cohesion. A small tree can transform a tiny space – great in containers, adding drama and height. Use evergreens for structure – start with green, then layer in perennials for seasonal colour. Stick to a theme, vary plant heights and textures, and most importantly, enjoy creating your own little oasis.”

botaniquegardens.com

BUTTER WAKEFIELD | Butter Wakefield Garden Design

“There are so many top tips that apply to smaller gardens, but I think bold structural planting is something we always tend to incorporate in all of the gardens we create and one of my favourite components of any planting scheme. I love including a selection of either clipped shapes or mounds of evergreen shrubs or even a little evergreen multi-stem tree in a beautiful big pot; all help to create dynamic, interesting spaces that look great all year round.” butterwakefield.co.uk

VICTORIA TRUMAN | Victoria Truman Garden Design Studio

“In a small garden, vertical elements create the illusion of space and add depth. Multi-stem trees provide structure without overwhelming the area, while bespoke timber pergolas introduce height and a sense of enclosure. Patterned paving helps define different zones, subtly guiding movement and enhancing the garden’s flow.

Layered planting, with climbers and wall-mounted greenery, softens boundaries and draws the eye upward, making the space feel more expansive. Thoughtful material choices, such as natural timber and stone, create cohesion, while a restrained colour palette ensures the space remains calm and inviting. With clever design, even the smallest garden can feel generous and beautifully connected to its surroundings.” victoriatruman.com

©Rebecca Fitch photography

GEORGIA LINDSAY | Georgia Lindsay Landscape & Garden Design

“Think about the furniture for small spaces. Avoid furniture that has a dense, block-like form, as this will make the space feel heavy. Consider opting instead for chairs that are light in texture with an ethereal quality, allowing the light to pass through. Built-in benches are a great way of optimising every inch of a compact garden. ‘Floating’ benches give a sense of greater space beneath, revealing every part of the footprint of the garden.

Choose furniture that is easy to lift and can have multiple uses, like a stool that doubles as seating or a small side table when required.” georgialindsay.co.uk

DIANA MARIA BEJANARU | IMAGO GARDENS

“Embrace larger trees. When thoughtfully placed, they add height, structure, and a sense of enclosure without overwhelming the space. Pairing them with a well-planned layout – such as dividing the garden into distinct areas – creates depth and intrigue, making the space feel larger.

Trees can also frame key views, provide dappled shade, and enhance biodiversity. By layering planting beneath them and incorporating winding paths or hidden seating areas, you encourage movement and discovery, transforming even the smallest garden into a dynamic, inviting outdoor retreat.” imagogardens.co.uk

TOM HOWARD | Tom Howard Garden Design and Landscaping

“Ditch the lawn for a small garden. Many people assume that having a garden means they must have a lawn. While this works well for larger spaces, in a small garden, a lawn can feel like a wasted opportunity. A tiny, ‘postage stamp’ lawn often takes up valuable space that could be better used for diverse planting, inviting seating areas, or more visually interesting surfaces. In fact, removing a small lawn often makes the garden appear larger. Grass also requires regular maintenance and can look dull in winter. By replacing it with evergreen plants, ornamental grasses, or textured ground covers, you can create a more dynamic and attractive space that provides year-round interest.” tomhowardgardens.co.uk

ZOE CLAYMORE | Zoe Claymore Garden Design

“Less is definitely more. Don’t try and do too much, but what you do needs to ensure every millimetre works hard. Maximise the usability and journey of the layout through the space by incorporating built-in and bespoke storage solutions and consider how each element can have multiple functions. For example, integrate seating within raised beds to combine practicality with biodiversity, or design hidden storage within benches to keep the space tidy. Avoid standalone objects to keep the space feeling open. One big planting bed is better for maintenance and future water consumption than many small pots. By keeping things clean and simple, you’ll not only make the space feel bigger but also enhance the layout flow.” zoeclaymore.com

PETER ROBINSON | GRDN Landscape + Garden Design

“Choose a combination of plants with varying heights, textures, and seasonal interests to create depth without overcrowding. Incorporate multi-stem trees for structure, layered underplanting, and climbing plants along boundaries to maximise space while keeping the garden lush and full of interest. Use ornamental grasses for movement, evergreens for year-round structure, and perennials for seasonal interest and colour. Keeping the colour palette restrained while emphasising textures and forms is essential for a cohesive design in a small space.” grdndesign.co.uk

“What I thought I’d miss from the TV industry was that camaraderie and collaboration –but I still have that”

Multi-award-winning garden designer Lucy Willcox believes in building partnerships, which has led to enviable opportunities

Lucy Willcox has just started filming for another episode of Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club. The Putney-based garden designer has been presenting mini

WORDS: NINA MASON

masterclasses on the new series, from how to make the most of small gardens from a courtyard she’d designed, to how to create zones in larger spaces from her own garden in Putney.

It’s not the first time Willcox, or her projects, have appeared alongside Titchmarsh, though. In 2012, her old garden in Highgate featured as a source of inspiration on ITV’s

Love Your Garden, which is how she first met the celebrity gardener. Following this, Titchmarsh asked Willcox to present the same garden for a segment on another show, Britain’s Best Back Gardens – bringing even more exposure for the garden, and for the designer.

She’d now built a strong rapport with Titchmarsh’s production team, who put her

forward for his latest show too. It was a natural fit for Willcox, who seems fairly comfortable in the role of presenter. She regularly posts videos to her Instagram, which has racked up more than 71,000 followers since she started her feed over a decade ago.

Willcox was arguably one of the first designers to see the potential of Instagram for her business, and she’s adapted her approach to the platform to suit what works. Her best advice? “Be authentic. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a presenting style; if you don’t engage someone in the first two seconds of

I just felt so passionately about garden design, and that hasn’t changed after 18 years. I still love it

a reel then you’ve lost them. But you learn through trial and error.”

Most of Willcox’s enquiries now come through Instagram and Pinterest, which might not come as a surprise for a garden designer who studied photography and graphic design

at university. She worked her way from a runner to producing television commercials, but was looking for a change in career, one to which she could transfer her existing skills.

When she moved into her house in Highgate, she transformed the outdoor space and so considered becoming a gardener.

But after visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2005, Willcox decided to pursue the garden design route instead and enrolled on a course at the Inchbald School of Design. On graduating, she worked at Christopher BradleyHole’s studio for a year before taking the leap and setting up on her own in 2007.

“I just felt so passionately about garden design, and that hasn’t changed after 18 years. I still love it. What I thought I’d miss from the TV industry was that camaraderie and collaboration – but I still have that. It’s such a lovely industry – everyone is happy to share and help each other. I’m not sure you’d find that in many other industries.”

Take her recent collaboration with Hudson Lighting. The garden designer is working with the supplier’s founder Chris Hudson to create a new range of outdoor lights. “The idea came to me when I wanted to sit outside and read after dark, but either had to bring a candle or

plug in a lamp. There are outdoor lights, but not for that purpose, so I realised there was a gap in the market.”

Willcox sketched up a few ideas for a portable outdoor lamp and sent these to Hudson, who she’d purchased from numerous times in the past. Together, they’ve been working on a range of contemporary exterior lighting to bring to market, which is nearly ready to launch.

Like all Hudson Lighting products, Willcox liked the idea of the range being made in Britain. She also wanted the parts to be replaceable to minimise waste and for the lighting to be wildlife friendly, in keeping with the ‘dark sky’ movement. To emphasise this, each of the lights is named after a nocturnal animal that could be impacted by light pollution.

As well as Hudson Lighting, Willcox has been working with online garden retailer Crocus on a collection of perennials and grasses. The partnership came about through her Instagram feed, on which Willcox posts videos from her own garden, which is attached to a 1960s bungalow in Putney.

The planting scheme won Willcox a Pro Landscaper Project Award last year, but it’s not just the soft landscaping that’s impressive. “I really love hard landscaping as well as planting, so the garden balances both of those,” says Willcox.

The stone used, for instance, wasn’t even on the market yet. Willcox had originally been looking to use poured concrete, but didn’t think it was quite right for the ‘industrial chic’ style – it was too cold, So, she called CED

about the planting combinations there; you don’t need your own garden,” says Willcox, recognising that other garden designers and landscapers may be looking to replicate her approach.

Stone and described the type of product she wanted to use, and it offered her a stone that it hadn’t even yet launched. “That’s why it’s so important to build relationships with suppliers.”

When she started posting more content from her garden, talking followers through the planting combinations and gaining a positive response, she saw another gap in the market – to provide a direct link for customers to purchase the planting schemes. Willcox now has her own dedicated page on the Crocus website, where all the plants from her own award-winning garden can be purchased. She has also released her first planting plan from one of the borders.

“I know that I’m privileged to have a house and garden that I can use for the videos, but you can go to a botanical garden and talk

The growing popularity of Instagram as a business tool is what’s led to another venture for Willcox – Inside the Green Room. The Instagram Live series brings together the garden designer and five others from the industry – Benjamin Walker, Marc Lane, Justin Himpson, Els Tisserand and Will Cooke – who take it in turns to host, bringing on a different guest each time.

“I’d gotten to know the others from various awards and Pro Landscaper on Tour, and I was already hosting Lives on my own Instagram, and Els was hosting his own YouTube channel, Landscaper’s Life. And Els came up with the idea of doing a podcast together. That way, we’d be able to bring all our experiences together – we’d be covering all aspects.”

They wanted to create a podcast but decided to launch Inside the Green Room on Instagram Live initially. Since starting towards the end of last year, they’ve had various guests, from horticulturist Noel Kingsbury to landscaper Ross Conquest to Kevin Martin,

head of tree collections and arboriculture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The latter was a personal favourite for Willcox, who says climate change is set to impact plant choices. “The way we design a planting palette is probably going to change. Mediterranean planting is not going to be suitable for the really hot summers and wet winters – or sometimes drier winters and really wet summers; it’s not going to cope if it gets flooded. So, conversations with nurseries and experts in this field are essential. That’s why I loved speaking to Kevin about climate resilient trees, which I think was educational for both the public and the industry.”

She’s currently working on a project in Marbella in Spain, but says the planting is not too dissimilar from what she would typically use in the UK. There are various courtyards and tiers to design for the garden, with a long, thin section parallel to the swimming pool. “You need to be brave and break it up into lots of different zones, as it’s quite an awkward space.”

Willcox receives offers to work all over the world, but she prefers to know the local landscapers to build the project. In Marbella, the project manager was able to advise on a contractor and Willcox interviewed them before they were appointed. Closer to home, in Cambridge, she took on a project providing Els Tisserand was the contractor.

Her studio has grown steadily and organically. She was featured in The Telegraph early on in her career, and there’s been various recognition since that has gotten her name out there. Working with BradleyHole on large projects also built Willcox’s confidence and her portfolio, and she’s now looking to build a team to outsource work to tackle the high level of enquiries.

But despite her initial interest in garden design being sparked by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Willcox hasn’t yet gone down the show garden route herself. “A lot of people tend to use Chelsea for exposure, but I’ve not really

A lot of people tend to use Chelsea for exposure, but I’ve not really needed that – and I think it would have taken me away from projects that I really wanted to do

needed that – and I think it would have taken me away from projects that I really wanted to do. So, it’s not happened so far, but if something fell into my lap and I really believed in the sponsor, then it might still happen.”

Between the collaborations, filming for the small screen, keeping her Instagram up to date and running her design studio, it’s hard to know where Willcox would find the time. But as she says, her passion for garden design hasn’t faded over the last 18 years, and her ambition clearly hasn’t either.

SUMMER SHOWCASE

CELEBRATING

An outdoor festival for contractors, designers and the supply chain that brings to life great garden experiences. A relaxed atmosphere in a great setting that will connect outdoor specialists with aspirational and exceptional landscapers and garden designers.

The Summer Showcase creates a dedicated and focused opportunity for suppliers to showcase their products and the role they play in creating exceptional outdoor spaces/gardens. Attendees will include APL members, Project Awards finalists along with other aspirational residential landscapers, garden designers, design and build specialists. Think Summer Fayre vibe with a business edge, that provides a relaxed environment to entertain and take part in will also include a range of activities to build and enhance relationships.

Expect to see sports games and other fun activities arranged on the day as we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL).

Request to attend the showcase

“It has always been a great partnership with Pro Landscaper; they have supported us immensely over the years and I would like to think we have supported them too. It is a brilliant synergy, that helps bring the industry together by both educating and inspiring – just like the APL has been doing for 30 years!”

Want to get involved and showcase your business? download the event guide

Or contact David: 01903 777584 | david.griffiths@eljays44.com

ENTRIES NOW OPEN

Friday 11 July 2025 | 16:30 | De Vere Horsley Estate

ENTRY DEADLINE 14 APRIL 2025

Enter the awards or purchase tickets

Will Williams | 01903 959390 will.williams@eljays44.com

Sponsorship opportunities

Sam Woolcock | 01903 777570 sam.woolcock@eljays44.com

Download the entry guide

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• Design and Build £100,000 - £250,000

• Planting Design under £25,000

• Special Feature under £50,000

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• Sustainable Garden under £50,000

• Temporary Installation under £50,000

• Community Green Space under £100,000

• Community Green Space £100,00 - £250,000

FROM DOWN UNDER

Formosa Landscapes’ Neal Harrington is cementing the company’s position in the outdoor living market after looking to other countries for inspiration

WORDS:

NINA MASON

You’ve no doubt heard it a few times before, but the outdoor living market appears to have boomed since the first COVID lockdown hit five years ago — and everyone seems to want a slice of the ever-growing pie. Finding the right gap in the market to stand out from the crowd isn’t easy, but Neal Harrington reckons he’s found a unique niche.

The managing director of Surrey-based Formosa Landscapes has brought over a skill he learnt when he worked in Australia for eight years—building outdoor kitchens with polished concrete. It’s a material he says is growing in popularity here too.

“It seems that the UK market is maybe a little behind, but the trend is moving towards the burnished concrete we install,” says Harrington. “Having a bit of a head start gave me an advantage, and I’ve been able to show my employees how to do it too. We’ve also used an online course with one of the leading concrete companies in Australia.”

The level of enquiries he’s received for outdoor

kitchens has sparked Harrington to form a sister company, Formosa Living, too. “We could also branch out into outdoor furniture and more. It’s just having a subcomponent to the actual construction of the garden. We can see that people are really investing in outdoor cooking and living, and that’s where we feel

We can see that people are really investing in outdoor cooking and living, and that’s where we feel we have a niche with the concrete kitchens that we build

we have a niche with the concrete kitchens that we build.”

It might be a saturated market, but that doesn’t concern Harrington. “There’s so much room for the amount of demand out there, so there’s no point in

competing with people; it’s about working together and hopefully giving the best service to clients as well. We want to be open-minded and not say that our product is the only way to go; we don’t mind endorsing other products too.”

After all, there is a slight issue with working with concrete—you can only build kitchens with it up to eight months of the year thanks to the weather, and getting the volume needed into the garden is difficult without side access. So, Harrington has just undertaken a course on using microcement after spotting that more and more companies were starting to use the material for a minimalistic look. “It’s a way of using a far smaller amount of material but still getting the same aesthetic.”

Using concrete can be a bit “taboo” now, but Harrington argues that, whilst the initial carbon footprint to produce cement for concrete might be significant, the lifelong durability of the material is considerable.

“There are so many benefits - you can reuse it again and again as concrete, and it stands the test of time. It has a timeless look too.

You could build an outdoor kitchen using locally sourced timber, but that still has to be grown and transported and won’t last as long. It’s looking at the long-term impact rather than just the initial inception of the product.

“Sustainability is at the fore of the landscaping industry, and we try to reuse as much as possible and minimise our waste. We use concrete crushers whenever we can on a project, and we’ll try to source products locally. Everyone needs to make changes to be as sustainable as possible, especially when you are producing large-scale construction projects.”

Harrington is open to trying alternatives to traditional methods, as technology and trends evolve—especially since a lot of the materials that are gaining popularity in the UK now have been used frequently in Australia for years.

He moved out to Melbourne after studying for a foundation degree from Camberwell College of Arts, throughout which he was labouring for a family friend, building timber treehouses and learning carpentry and how to design outdoor spaces. In Australia, he worked for a landscaping company and started to learn new construction techniques and gain a separate set of skills.

He intended to set up his own company there, but a series of family events, from his sister getting married to his other sister having a baby, brought him back for the summer—and he’s been in the UK ever since. “I started to really enjoy my time here, and I found a good position working with Garden Club London for a number of years. I met my partner, Johanna [Peña], and here we are now.”

Harrington founded Formosa—in which Peña is also a partner—in 2020, just after the pandemic. “It was a bit of a leap, especially

Everyone needs to make changes to be as sustainable as possible, especially when you are producing large-scale construction projects

to go from working at a company like Garden Club London to making that move and starting on your own. But it worked really well because

everyone was looking at their outdoor space, so there were a lot of projects on the market up for grabs. We managed to get quite a bit of traction.”

Building relationships with garden designers helped; half of its projects are now built only, and the other half are both designed and built by Formosa. “We’re trying to work with designers a bit more this year to give me more of a chance to get back on site and build the gardens, so to streamline the process because we’re now working on larger scale projects.”

Harrington and Peña are focusing on attracting more people to landscaping. “It’s a topic Harrington says is at the forefront for most companies, as recruiting the right people for the right roles is proving tough. “Clients don’t mind paying more for a plumber or an electrician, but landscapers remain lower paid.

There needs to be some kind of defined level to be a landscaper.

“We want to help entice people into the industry, and we’re looking at producing perhaps a course that would cover both hard and soft landscaping. There’s such a wide range of skills in landscaping, and it’s good to hold an interest in both the horticulture side and construction. At Formosa, we are committed to becoming an employer of choice, investing in the next generation of landscapers and providing opportunities for growth. We recognise the importance of shaping the future of the industry and are eager to innovate, train, and inspire.

“To make landscaping a more attractive career choice, we believe in offering clear career pathways, skills development, and competitive pay. There is so much potential for specialisation, from sustainable landscaping to construction techniques, and we want to equip our team with the knowledge and expertise to thrive. Creating a strong team culture, where employees feel valued and part of a meaningful mission, is also key. By showcasing the craftsmanship and impact of our work, we hope to encourage more people to see landscaping as a fulfilling and rewarding career.”

It has recently recruited its first apprentice and is hoping to bring in more later this year. “Apprenticeships are a brilliant way to bring in new talent, giving people hands-on experience while they learn. They help build skills, bring fresh ideas, and create a stronger, more passionate team. By investing in apprenticeships, we’re hoping to not just fill jobs—we’re training the next generation of landscapers who share our values and commitment to quality.” Formosa’s passion for exploring new methods and materials allows the team to “flex their landscaping skills and put them to the test,” says Harrington, helping the company stand out.

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THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

Sourcing sustainable lighting solutions is made easy with the Deltalight and Landscapeplus collaboration

From traditional family business roots in 1989, Deltalight has grown exponentially into an international provider of architectural lighting solutions – yet the company still maintains its family values and strong ethics. Together with its customers and partners, it is committed to creativity, quality and sustainability.

Deltalight knows that with the right lighting, any space can speak – including the great outdoors. Light and landscaping work in harmony, highlighting each other’s strengths and making sure they show each other in their best light. Deltalight’s signature designs create that extra class, style and atmosphere; it brings a space – and people – together.

Whatever style your project needs, Deltalight’s collection has something for everyone. With hundreds of different options, the company is continuously growing and trendsetting, providing a plethora of choices for design-conscious landscapers and customers. Each of Deltalight’s products

are born at its Belgian headquarters. From design and development, to prototyping and manufacturing, to packaging and storage, it all happens there. This enables Deltalight to take care of all the production processes and final product delivery, mitigating the risk of supply.

At Deltalight, it knows that it’s not enough to have fantastic products; it needs to ensure that it works with distributors that its clients know and trust. That’s why Deltalight has a longstanding partnership with the trusted and credible Landscapeplus, a respected supplier of lighting and other important outdoor equipment to the UK’s garden and landscaping professionals. Landscapeplus’ ethos aligns perfectly with Deltalight; helping industry professionals to create beautiful gardens with as little hassle as possible. And just as Deltalight seeks to support its clients as a trusted advisor, not just a manufacturer, Landscapeplus adopts this role too. Not only does it share knowledge and guidance through its training sessions, Landscapeplus also provides a free design support service, where it

works with professionals to develop ideas and create a complete system tailored to individual project requirements.

The collaboration between Deltalight and Landscapeplus enables garden professionals to seek out high-quality, design-led lighting from a supplier they know they can rely on.

If it’s a classic country feel that you are aiming for, Deltalight’s solutions seamlessly integrate into the environment and illuminate space with products such as the Montur, Polesano, and Stievie that were adapted into a private residence in Mexico by architect Atrio Interiores. But for a more contemporary design, Ladies Lake in St Andrews by the Pyramid Group, showcases how the Monopol, Oblix, Striper, Oono, and Nebbia can add ambience and flair to create a modern outdoor space.

Deltalight knows that in today’s world, it is not enough to simply have great products. Sustainability adds value and drives economic growth. At Deltalight, the team looks for ways to make sustainability an everyday lifestyle choice.

Deltalight recognises that its business activities have an impact on the environment, and it takes this responsibility seriously

Deltalight recognises that its business activities have an impact on the environment, and it takes this responsibility seriously, placing great importance on ecological awareness and sustainability. Its reputation is based on producing light fittings that are innovative, efficient, and above all, environmentally friendly.

Deltalight uses the latest technological developments whenever possible, improving recycling, encouraging reuse, and paying close attention to efficient use of materials, meaning low-waste production and low-carbon transport.

Its commitment has been recognised by the ‘Lighting for Good Awards’ in 2019 and 2020, plus it holds the EcoVadis Silver Medal which shows its commitment and compliance with ethical and sustainable practices. Beyond production processes, Deltalight’s Belgian headquarters are equipped with solar panels that produce enough renewable energy to power its entire production line and office, meaning that it takes pride in offering its employees a healthy, safe and harmonious environment.

Deltalight also pays a lot of attention to recycling and waste management. Many of its luminaires are made of aluminium profiles and it optimises manufacturing to minimise waste, whereby it is collected and recycled or upcycled.

In the continual pursuit of sustainability, Deltalight recognises that the responsible use of products is essential in its pivotal role. Beyond the manufacturing process, the impact of how Deltalight’s creations interact with the natural environment is equally significant.

This principle is especially true in the realm of lighting, where Deltalight’s choices can either contribute to or mitigate issues such as light pollution that impacts the wider ecosystem. It appreciates that landscape professionals will already be comfortable with the basic principles of dark skies for responsible lighting practices, meaning their focus is on the role that they can play in helping them to achieve these.

Its drive for sustainability therefore extends to providing consumers with multiple options to adhere to these principles. By incorporating

these guidelines into its designs, it empowers individuals and communities to make informed choices that align with a dark sky future.

One notable new solution in the Deltalight portfolio uses an ecofriendly lighting approach that helps supports the natural world. Thanks to its high-performance optical system, the newly launched Polesano Bollard can be positioned up to 10m apart, which equates to less luminaires and more energy savings.

These can be fitted with low power LED sources. These Nature Centric low-power LEDs emit a spectrum of 560nm or higher, avoiding blue light and minimising interference with the vision of amphibians, birds, insects, and mammals. This Nature Centric Lighting, together with the positioning of the LED, reduces light pollution and minimises visual disturbance to nearby flora and fauna.

Whatever style your next project takes, you can combine functionality with atmosphere and innovation by choosing from Deltalight’s impressive outdoor collection.

Bespoke British Made Outdoor Kitchens

Combining style with extreme durability, KönigOutdoor kitchen cabinetry is created using sintered stone external surfaces and an internal weatherproof structure.

Each KönigOutdoor kitchen is made to order in Britain with turnkey advice and support available for you and your client, from design through to aftercare.

Kitchen design by Stevens Design Refurbishment & Build

Bringing the OUTDOORS IN A

Creating an outdoor living arm could be a lucrative venture –but it’s not as easy as it seems
WORDS:

NINA MASON

t the end of April, Landform Consultants will be launching its new collaborative venture. It’s been bringing together suppliers and other landscaping companies for the last few months to help create the Glasshouse Collective, a hub at its site in Chobham, Surrey.

Reclaimed objects from previous projects and show gardens will be showcased alongside products from partnerships with the likes of Landscapeplus, Allgreen, Torc Pots and Schellevis – all in a 30m by 15m commercial glasshouse from the 1960s that Landform Consultants has salvaged.

As well as showcasing high-quality brands, managing director Mark Gregory and creative and landscape designer Alan Williams want the Glasshouse Collective to provide a venue for hosting gatherings, networking, client visits, trade associations to meet, and training.

“I want to bring the industry together. Let’s collaborate and be open and honest. I believe in starting those conversations,” says Gregory.

Whilst the setting itself will be unique, the idea of a landscape contractor setting up a showroom and creating supplier partnerships is seemingly gaining traction.

Arguably, one of the first to the scene was Walker Landscape & Design in Cheshire. As the company’s projects got bigger, clients were asking for advice in sourcing outdoor living products, and managing director Ben Walker saw an opportunity to offer a turnkey service, and one that he could have more control over.

“There could be a financial benefit to it as well,” says Walker. “Some projects make more money than others depending on various delays and the weather, but the margins in selling products are quite well protected.”

He started out with a range of outdoor kitchens around six years ago which became “hugely popular”, and it “snowballed” from there, leading him to develop a showroom. The company became known for its outdoor living range and, soon enough, instead of Walker approaching suppliers, he found that brands were contacting him asking to build a relationship.

“We now get enquiries almost daily from suppliers wanting to get into the showroom thanks to its success. It was perfect timing, with the rising popularity of outdoor living coupled with lockdown. And it’s grown tremendously; the outdoor living side of the business has doubled for three years running and it now makes up

nearly half of our turnover. It’s a huge part of the business for us, and we get a lot of interest from other people thinking of doing the same.”

the outdoor living side of the business has doubled for three years running and it now makes up nearly half of our turnover. It’s a huge part of the business for us

As well as diversifying rather than relying on one source of work, it allows him to build strong, longstanding relationships with preferred suppliers. This means that, should there be an issue, it can be resolved swiftly – and all with the client only having to deal with one point of contact. “Our clients are cash rich and time poor, so they really appreciate it being kept simple.”

Walker would highly recommend it too – if it’s done right. “It’s certainly not easy at first, but it can be a steady stream of extra income and has such synergy with the core business.”

A showroom is somewhat essential though, he says. Part of the agreement to become a partner with most suppliers is to display the products. For Walker, it’s been a phased approach, with each partnership unlocking another part of the showroom.

“There are labour and cash flow pressures, and you need to have the time and head space to do it. But we’ve found that clients prefer to visit one place to see products. I’m sure many landscaping companies have had a few certain clients that they’ve developed good relationships with who will allow them to visit their home to show potential clients their garden; but once you’ve done that three or four times, you don’t really want to ask again, and there’s only so much you can do with a brochure and sample. Having clients visit the showroom has led to conversion rates going up; it’s helped them to make that final decision to give the green light.”

Setting up your own outdoor living arm and showroom is a risk, though. That’s why Marc Lane, managing director of Birminghambased Landscapia, partnered with an existing company. Like Walker, he found Landscapia was missing out on opportunities to make extra

profit from projects as he and the team simply didn’t have time to source the products. Its clients would then tend to go and find their own products after the installation.

“The issue with that is, firstly, there are potential earnings that we could have made,” says Lane. “Secondly, they rarely furnished it properly; they would use products that didn’t suit the scheme and, inevitably, they didn’t know which products were good quality or not, and the sizing wouldn’t be right.”

That’s when he came across Nuvo Outdoor Living, a relatively new business set up by Lizzie Virgo and her husband Scott, a designer who had found the same pain points as Lane and switched to focusing solely on products. They’ve since decided to team up. “I wanted to offer a certain service to my customers without putting extra workload on my team. So, we collaborated in such a way that he became our external product specialist who could liaise with the client and our team to supply us

with what we needed so we could design the space accordingly.”

It worked really well. “I created a service that didn’t really exist yet, which came from 20 years of landscaping knowledge and knowing what the client needs and what we need as a landscaping business. We decided that it would be beneficial to not just start a new company –because I couldn’t wholeheartedly be in either one, as one of them would suffer – but that I needed to team up with someone who could be entirely dedicated.”

So, Lane became a director of Nuvo – to which Landscapia is now a client – focusing on trade customers. “We now have quite a big portfolio of designers and landscapers who use our services. Collaboration with a company that specialises and gives you the service of having the right products for a project works far better than trying to integrate it into our own business.”

For a start, you don’t have to spend thousands on setting up a showroom from

scratch. Even if you went down just the e-commerce route, you’re competing in a crowded market and still need to invest in a website and online advertising campaigns, says Lane. Then there’s the decision of whether to run it as a separate entity or as part of your existing company.

“The danger of that is the only people who will use it will potentially be your own customer base, which is a small market; if you’re only designing 20 gardens a year, that’s only 20

We decided that it would be beneficial to not just start a new company – because I couldn’t wholeheartedly be in either one, as one of them would suffer – but that I needed to team up with someone who could be entirely dedicated

opportunities to sell furniture. There’s a financial risk to doing that. Also, if you’re not specialising in it and focusing every minute of your working hours on that business, it’s less likely to succeed, and your core business has to be self-sufficient already otherwise that will fail too.”

In other words, despite the rise in companies stepping into the outdoor living market, it’s a bigger commitment than it might first appear – and that’s without taking into account the role social media plays.

“People don’t always buy immediately,” says Lane. “They might sit and watch videos for six months before deciding to commit. So, you need to remain active on social media. People might visit a website once because they found it on Google but then forget it because it’s not saved anywhere. At least if the company is on social media, they can follow you and they’re reminded of you every time you post a story.”

But social media is getting tougher, he says. “You have to work harder to get genuine followers through the algorithm, and you want to be targeting the right followers with the right content so that you’re not just getting followers for the sake of it, but getting genuine customers.”

So, there’s the social media, the website, the showroom – then you need to deliver the products in a way that gets you good reviews and repeat business. “It’s not just selling them;

less choice is sometimes better so we can guide them down a certain path and have more control over a project

you have to consider how to get the product from A to B, carefully and efficiently in a way that works for the client. Then there’s the aftercare side of it, ensuring you have the infrastructure to deal with issues if something goes wrong. All your products are more at risk because they’re in the elements outdoors, and you have to educate your clients with that information.”

Product selection is therefore essential. Walker has marketed his outdoor living arm as “the best of the best,” curating an offering of only high-end products. “We’re proud of the family name and the brand that we’ve built with that. It builds a lot of trust with clients. There have been opportunities to work with various products over the years that may have sold really well but we weren’t convinced of the quality. You have to think about the trust that people put in you and the potential comebacks that could come from the number of installations of these products.”

This has meant that Walker Outdoor Living’s reputation has grown, and it’s now struggling to fit all the products it has partnered with. It’s stocking a new range of outdoor kitchens this year, having become the UK and Ireland distributor for Roostr in the Netherlands, prompting a showroom renovation and upcoming launch event.

There are plans to grow the design and build business, but it’s the outdoor living arm that offers the biggest opportunity for growth at the moment, says Walker. From the industry-wide skills shortage to extreme weather conditions, landscaping isn’t getting any easier. “There are far less limitations with outdoor living; it’s in some ways a simpler side of the business.”

Supplier relationships are at the heart of it, especially when you’re just starting out, like Consilium Hortus. A few days before breaking ground on his showroom, managing director Sam Moore is mere weeks away from launching his outdoor living offering, which will fall under the Consilium umbrella.

“The problem we’ve had in the past is sending people to showrooms where seeing everything can cloud what we wanted to achieve in their garden; less choice is sometimes better so we can guide them down a certain path and have more control over a project. We’ll have a Consilium collection on display.”

A number of his longstanding suppliers are supporting him, from Caribbean Blinds to Lume Fire. “It’s going to benefit all of us; we’re going to sell more beautiful outdoor products and hopefully earn more money. And because we’re at the higher end of the market, we don’t need to

sell 100 pergolas to make it worthwhile; we need to sell a handful.”

For Moore, it’s about more than selling products. “We want to give our clients the best experience possible and show them the lifestyle they could have if they work with us. The whole idea is that people walk in and see the pergola, the kitchen, the sound system and the fire table and envision a lifestyle. The products are further on down the line in that process.”

Because regardless of the brand a client is purchasing, they’re buying it under the Consilium brand, and Moore is striving for his company to be the “Harrods of garden design”. And rather than being put off by the growing competition, he’s unperturbed. “You just have to do what’s right for your business. We’re in a pretty strong position now, which is a testament to Nick [Ruddle, a business coach}, but also to the strong relationships with suppliers. I wouldn’t be in a position to do it otherwise; you need to be a known quantity to these companies.”

Whether it’s opening your showroom or working in partnership with an existing company, stepping into the outdoor living market is yet another way for the landscaping industry to collaborate in a way in which everyone seems to win.

DIVING IN

Utilising

EVi Pools’ turnkey packages brings with it a variety

of benefits

Homeowners are no longer just looking for a pool installer or a landscaper – they want a complete transformation. The demand for all-in-one garden design, landscaping, pool installation, and décor packages is sky-rocketing, and for designers and installers, this is a golden opportunity.

support to streamline installation. With its preengineered pool systems and construction plans, installers can reduce construction time and minimise risk of errors.

Benefits of full-service packages

• Simplicity: One contract, one project manager, no juggling multiple schedules.

Rather than co-ordinating multiple contractors, installers who offer a full service gain complete control over the vision, execution, and final product. This ensures consistency and delivers a flawless result.

This is creating a new wave of profitability and efficiency, and companies like EVi Pools are leading the charge, offering simple trade packages that give professionals everything they need to manage entire projects.

EVi Pools’ packages include pre-designed pool kits, customisable options, and expert

• Clearer communication: A single team means fewer potential delays and a smoother execution.

• Budget: While upfront costs may be higher, a package deal minimises unexpected expenses.

• Less stress: Homeowners can enjoy the transformation rather than managing the complexities of multiple service providers.

This shift presents an opportunity:

• Full creative control: Designers don’t have to compromise their vision due to misalignment between contractors as they oversee the entire process.

• Larger and more lucrative projects: Fullservice packages mean larger contracts and higher profits. EVi Pools’ trade packages help installers tap into this growing market by streamlining the pool installation component.

• Stronger client relationships: Delivering a stress-free, premium experience builds trust.

• A competitive edge: Installers who offer comprehensive packages stand out from those who only provide individual services.

• Higher efficiency and profitability: Controlling the entire project reduces inefficiencies, overheads, and wasted time.

Own the process, own the profits

The rise of turnkey outdoor solutions isn’t just about making things easier for homeowners – it’s about empowering designers and installers to take full control of projects, deliver stunning results, and maximise profitability. Those who adapt and leverage trade packages like EVi Pools’ will be at the forefront of this evolution, turning ambitious designs into reality while building stronger, more profitable businesses. evi.co.uk

“EVi Pools’ packages include predesigned pool kits, customisable options, and expert support to streamline installation.”

WINDING

ROCKS

Julia Keem talks us through creating a more tropical planting scheme for a garden in East Sussex

We were taken aback by the garden’s stunning views over rolling fields to the coastline in East Sussex and its lovely south-facing aspect. The site had a tired flower border in traditional beds, now overgrown and leggy. A large eucalyptus dominated the bed, creating dry shade and absorbing soil moisture.

Shrubs like Buxus, abelia, euphorbia and hydrangea filled the beds. Many had been pruned into strange, rounded shapes. Around those shrubs were anemones, lavatera, lychnis, salvia, erigeron, nepeta, potentilla, Geranium pratense, Fuchsia and rosa – all good plants, some of which we saved and replanted elsewhere, but in need of refreshing. The soil was nutrient rich, having been mulched with compost every year, and it had a good structure and a neutral pH.

After two hot, dry summers, the clients had found the herbaceous garden hard to maintain and wanted a drought-tolerant, tropical-style redesign. They wanted to sit in the garden and dine and entertain on the

patio that runs adjacent to the border, which had felt disconnected from the border and the garden itself. They wanted their grandchildren to enjoy the space and asked for a wildlife pond with plants to attract water boatmen and tadpoles.

The clients wanted the planting design to complement and enhance the view and to have a nod to the tropical. It was important to add a sense of cohesion across the garden, introducing plants and features that thrived in a warm, dry climate, which attracted wildlife and that the family could enjoy and interact with.

Our ‘Winding Rocks’ concept was inspired by the rugged coastline beyond, with its curved bays and large rocks. Weaving paths led

through lush, inviting planting, adding movement and flow. These paths crossed large boulders that acted as sculptural features, framing the planting. The clients’ antique urns were also incorporated to create a classical feel.

Planting was key with structural evergreens creating strong shapes. Plants such as Trachycarpus fortunei, Cupressus sempervirens, Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii and Melianthus major formed the backbone of the

TOP 10 PLANTS USED

1. Trachycarpus fortunei

2. Cupressus sempervirens

3. Euphorbia characias subsp. Wulfenii

4. Geum ‘Tim’s Tangerine’

5. Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’

6. Santolina rosmarinifolia

7. Molinia ‘Transparent’

8. Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’

9. Salvia ‘Blue Spire’ (Pe)

10. Hakonechloa macra

planting scheme. It brought a tropical feel with palm fronds or lush textured green foliage. Lower storey evergreens included Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ and Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ to give stable accents to the abundant perennial display.

Naturalistic waves of perennials and grasses covered the border, planted in drifts. In the

The design borrowed from the surrounding landscape scene to make an interactive and lively planted garden, full of scent, movement and wildlife

early season, Nepeta racemosa ‘Walkers Low’, Geum ‘Tim’s Tangerine’ and Phlomis russeliana combined with Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ and Salvia ‘Hot Lips’. Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ contrasted with Santolina rosmarinifolia and all were softened with a skirt of Erigeron karvinskianus, Hakonechloa macra and Stipa tenuissima. Later in the season, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ combined with Salvia ‘Blue Spire’ (Pe), Echinops ritro L., Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’ and Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ to bring mid-late season colour and height. Tall grasses such

as Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ and Molinia ‘Transparent’ moved in the breeze and captured morning and evening sunlight.

Colours were bright with a backbone of purples, whites and greens such as salvia, Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ and Alchemilla mollis. Strong contrasting yellows, oranges and reds from geum, crocosmia and rudbeckia brought energy. Many plants were left over winter to provide food for birds and add seasonal interest. Echinaceas, miscanthus and calamagrostis all carried themselves well into January. A bulb plant of crocus, narcissus, alliums and tulip ‘Queen of the Night’, ‘White Triumphator’ and ‘Ballerina’ saw in the spring and helped feed early pollinators.

The design was inspired by the surrounding landscape, creating an interactive, lively garden filled with scent, movement, and wildlife. One challenge was the weather—a late start due to strong winds and heavy rain was followed by further delays in what had been the wettest spring in years, not ideal for a drought-tolerant planting scheme. Eventually, conditions improved, allowing progress.

Despite the challenging start, the project did eventually come together to create a good, finished garden. The design did worked overall, the paths wound nicely through the plants and the boulders created a dramatic backdrop. The structural evergreen

plants added height and majesty, while the perennials and grasses brought vibrant colour, movement, and scent. The urns gave a classical touch, and climbers softened the pergola and arbour.

The project had a wow factor, created by the combination of plants, the height of structural plants and striking boulders. The paths allowed interaction with the plants, which spilled over and brushed against legs, making the garden exciting and accessible.

The garden was sustainably built using UKsourced stone and locally grown plants, with planting carried out by our in-house team. The existing soil was retained and enriched with compost, and the planting plan was adapted to suit it. Evergreens attracted invertebrates, while brightly coloured, scented plants drew birds, bees, and insects.

ABOUT

Julia Keem studied garden design at Hadlow College and the University of Greenwich. In 2010, she received the Ann Wright scholarship to train under Fergus Garrett at Great Dixter. Since graduating in 2012, Keem has established her own practice, designing gardens across Kent, East Sussex, and Southeast London. Known for her naturalistic style. Two projects, including Winding Rocks, have been shortlisted for a Pro Landscaper Project Award. Keem is a pre-registered member of the SGLD.

juliakeemdesign.co.uk

THE AGE OF THE OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Cooking outdoors seems more popular than ever – Samuel Moore shares how to integrate a kitchen seamlessly into a design

Cooking outdoors is inherently satisfying – the scent of wood smoke drifting through the garden, a steak sizzling on the grill, the clink of glasses as friends gather. It’s a more relaxed, immersive experience, turning cooking into a social occasion rather than a solitary task.

Outdoor kitchens have evolved beyond a trend; they are now a defining feature of modern garden design. No longer just a barbecue on the patio, today’s outdoor kitchens are fully integrated, high-functioning spaces that change the way people use their gardens. Whether for families making the most of their outdoor space or hospitality venues enhancing al fresco dining, outdoor cooking has become a key part of how we live and entertain.

Why outdoor kitchens are thriving

Gardens have become more than decorative; they are true extensions of the home. More time spent at home has driven a desire to bring the comforts of indoor living outside. Cooking and dining outdoors is not just for summer –when designed well, it can be enjoyed year-round.

For homeowners, an outdoor kitchen is an investment in both their property and lifestyle. It creates a social hub, where cooking is part of the occasion rather than something that happens behind closed doors. The host doesn’t need to be stuck in the kitchen while guests relax – they’re right there, at the centre of it all. For designers and landscapers, this shift presents an opportunity. Clients are increasingly informed about what’s possible, and demand for well-designed, functional outdoor kitchens is rising. Offering one is no longer a luxury add-on – it’s an expectation.

Placement matters; no one wants to face a fence while everyone else socialises. Instead, the layout should foster interaction

Designing an outdoor kitchen that works

A well-designed outdoor kitchen begins with two key considerations: function and practicality.

The first step is understanding how the space will be used. Some clients want a classic grill setup; others prefer a pizza oven, a teppanyaki plate, or a full outdoor bar. Some envision largescale entertaining, while others just want a space for relaxed family meals. The key is tailoring the design to fit seamlessly into the client’s lifestyle.

Once this is clear, practical elements come into play. Gas, electricity, and water connections must be planned from the start. This will prevent costly adjustments later.

Creating a social space

An outdoor kitchen isn’t just about cooking –it’s about connection. Placement matters; no one wants to face a fence while everyone else socialises. The layout should foster interaction, whether through an L-shaped design that opens onto a dining area, a central island where guests can perch with a drink, or bar seating.

The shape and flow of the space are crucial. A straight-run kitchen works well in compact gardens, while U-shaped or island layouts create a more immersive cooking zone. The goal is to integrate cooking into the social experience rather than separate it from it.

Choosing materials that last

Outdoor kitchens must withstand the elements, so material choices must balance durability with aesthetics. Worktops should be resistant to weathering, making granite, quartzite, porcelain, and Dekton ideal.

Cabinetry can be modular – such as those from Grillo and Burnout – or custom-built using

block construction clad in porcelain, brick, limestone or timber.

For those seeking a bespoke approach, specialist joiners can craft outdoor kitchens that mirror the quality of interior spaces while being designed for durability. At Consilium Hortus, we’ve developed this approach, ensuring that each kitchen is as beautiful as it is practical.

Weatherproofing and maintenance

To ensure year-round usability, shelter is key. A louvered pergola, for example, provides shade in summer and protection from rain in winter.

Maintenance also plays a role. Even the best outdoor appliances require care – leaving a grill untouched for months makes it far less inviting come spring. Proper storage for tools and accessories keeps everything in good condition, while designing a space for easy appliance covers extends longevity.

The future of outdoor kitchens

Outdoor cooking is evolving, with technology playing an exciting role. Smart grills that ignite and reach temperature at the touch of an app are becoming more common, while modular kitchens allow for even more customisation.

Sustainability is influencing outdoor kitchen design too, with energy-efficient appliances, eco-conscious materials, and water-saving solutions shaping the industry. As outdoor living continues to grow in popularity, these spaces will become more refined, versatile, and seamlessly integrated into garden design.

The outdoor kitchen movement is an opportunity to create spaces that enhance the way people connect with their outdoor environment. We’ve seen first-hand how a welldesigned outdoor kitchen can transform a garden into a space that is loved throughout the year.

The outdoor kitchen isn’t just a feature; it’s a lifestyle. And it’s here to stay.

ABOUT

Samuel Moore runs Consilium Hortus, an Essex-based company that creates bespoke garden design solutions for private and commercial clients. One of Pro Landscaper’s 30 Under 30: The Next Generation winners, Moore has previously worked for various award-winning design and build companies and has a degree in Landscape and Garden Design from Writtle University College. consiliumhortus.co.uk

Food for Thought

Caribbean Blinds

This high-performing multi-functional pergola combines a fixed roof of glass and rotating louvers, perfectly protecting any outdoor kitchen.

From £21,995 (including installation) cbsolarshading.co.uk

KÖNIGOUTDOOR KITCHEN WITH NEUTRAL TONED FINISHES

KönigOutdoor

Many recent projects feature sintered stone cladding with neutral tones, creating an understated look to perfectly complement any outdoor space. POA konigoutdoor.co.uk

Grillo

KITCHENS

Grillo is a customisable and design-led outdoor kitchen, blending Iroko hardwood with heavy-gauge cabinetry. Grillo outdoor kitchens are made in the UK with a marine-grade coating for complete protection from the elements.

From £5,910 grilloliving.com

*all prices inclusive of VAT

GRILLO OUTDOOR
KönigOutdoor kitchen on the Savills Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show using Neolith Pietra Di Osso and Beton Silk surfaces
DELUXE + POD

The New Face of Porcelain Paving

Beauty springing from a three-dimensional soul

Dinamika porcelain is a 20mm-thick paving range with a structured surface, offering impressive technical qualities.

It features hyper realistic stone and wood textures with unique, dynamic surfaces and a strong three-dimensional effect.

Produced using premium raw materials and a controlled process, this exclusive technology ensures exceptional performance and visual depth.

Dinamika is an exclusive range of porcelain paving only available to Global Stone and Digby Stone customers.

Explore our range at www.digbystone.co.uk

Explore our range at www.globalstonepaving.co.uk

OUTDOOR THERAPY

Awash in black and accented with cedar cladding, a contemporary garden room needed an outdoor space to complement its sleek appearance. It had been placed at a 45° angle to the property in Hove Park for dramatic effect, so the garden had to blend seamlessly from it.

Garden designer Rachel Goozee was brought on board to do exactly this. Along with creating lounge and dining areas, she was tasked with adding a few features into the mix, including a barrel sauna, hot tub, outdoor shower, fire pit and water feature.

The clients led an active lifestyle, with the garden room doubling up as gym. So, they were looking for a calming space for wellbeing and

Rachel Goozee Garden & Planting Design
Park View, Hove

escapism, and one that was suitable for their dog. At the top of their list for hot and cold restorative therapy were a barrel sauna, Jacuzzi, and shower, while the rest of the garden was designed for relaxation and entertaining.

A patch of lawn needed to be kept, but the rest Goozee was able to radically change, starting with a path of super-sized paving to lead people through the zones. She followed fixed angles to create triangular shapes and sharp lines, leaving plenty of room for new trees and a simple, lush green planting palette.

New cedar slatted fencing helped create a contemporary boundary to connect it with the garden room and was repeated in the hot tub enclosure to add warmth and hide some unsightly shared party walls.

For planting, Goozee put together a scheme that was contemporary and fresh, with lots of evergreen perennials. She also added autumnal oranges and red, fiery tones to add warmth in the grey, wetter months. There’s Fatsia japonica ‘Tsumugi-shibori’ and Hakonechloa macra (Hakone grass), with winter structure from the stems of the silver birch trees and multi-stemmed Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’.

“The planting includes lots of movement and use of grasses, and the colour palette is quite simple in greens, limes and whites,” says Goozee. “A maintenance guide has been handed over to our clients and we introduced a gardener whom we keep in contact with to help with establishment. We pride ourselves on follow-up advice and visits long after the build.”

Neighbours on both sides were concerned about the new silver birch and pleached trees taking away light from their gardens, but Goozee allayed their doubts by explaining how the trees would be maintained to not cast too much shadow and could even complement their own spaces over time.

She also asked one of the neighbours if some mature Phyllostachys bamboo could be taken out to eradicate rhizomes becoming a pest and popping up on the client’s side in the future, which they fortunately agreed to. If not, Goozee planned to install some root barrier at around 80-100cm deep to eliminate this issue.

Working around the large garden room, at its 45° angle, proved to be the biggest challenge of the sloped site. It needed to be connected to the house through the new garden, and so Goozee purposefully followed lines from the garden room and created a zig zag path to finish directly in line with the centre of the bifold doors at the rear

DURING

The barrel sauna was on the original brief and chosen to complete the whole sports recovery objectives and work with the shower and hot tub. We chose this particular model for its aesthetic and compact design. Measuring just 2050mm (w) x 2150mm (h) x 1400mm (l), we were able to place it exactly where we wanted without it being too imposing. In fact, with the planting and angled paths, from some positions in the garden it’s almost hidden.

The ThermoWood material was chosen having undergone heat treatment and to make it more robust. Rather than dumping it on the landscape contractor and expecting them to spend a couple of days working out the flat pack instructions, we had it pre-constructed and craned over the garage at the same time as the hot tub. It saved a lot of headaches, and with the base footings prepared by the contractor, it was easy to drop it into place, connect the power and away you go.

The final position is at the exact corner where the path changes direction, so the hard lines point towards the centre of the door. You’re also able to walk bare foot from the hot tub to the sauna along the wide format porcelain path.

REFERENCES

Construction

Timeless Landscapes timelesslandscapes.uk.com

Lighting Neo Electrical Solutions neoelectrical.co.uk

Porcelain paving London Stone londonstone.co.uk

Limestone aggregate Decorative Aggregate decorativeaggregates.com

Fencing and screens

Southgate Timber southgatetimber.co.uk

Decking Millboard millboard.com/en-gb

Jacuzzi

Jacuzzi jacuzzi.com/en-gb

Barrel sauna Polhus polhus.co.uk

Water bowl Capital Garden Products capital-garden.com

Edging Weather It weather-it.co.uk

Trees Architectural Plants architecturalplants.com

Shrubs and perennials The Plant Company theplantco.co.uk

Bolney Nurseries bolneynursery.co.uk

Garden Sage gardensage.co.uk

Garden room (existing) A Room in the Garden aroominthegarden.co.uk

of the house. This created not only a functional path but also a striking feature and focal point, constructed from London Stone’s 1,200 x 1,200mm Yard Porcelain Paving. The slabs were heavy to lift and install by hand, but the Timeless Landscapes team worked with 5mm joints at 45° angles to provide a meticulous finish.

The cedar barrel sauna was installed halfway along the path, at the point where it changes direction – which Goozee says is also where the planting comes into its own. “It immerses this unit, gently caressing the top of the sauna and partially obscuring it from each end of the garden. We didn’t want it to look like a spaceship had just landed, so nestling it amongst plants really helped to ground it into its own space.”

Materials had to come up a steep driveway and through a side return enclosure with narrow doors at each end. The frame of the second door had to be deconstructed in order to squeeze the digger through and then re-constructed, but the team used the long-armed crane to lift the hot tub and sauna over the side return enclosure.

“Rachel has been patient and intuitive with us since the first talks about what we thought we needed in a new garden design and took our initial ideas much further to create a stunning and original design that completely balances everything in the space,” say the clients.

The new garden continues the drama provided by the garden room whilst offering a relaxing, modern space – perfect for recovery.

The cedar fence battens that clad a section of the existing garden room were echoed along the right-hand boundary and to the left of the hot tub to create cohesion and a seamless aesthetic. The old softwood fence was shot, and the wall was also unsightly, so we painted the wall black and went full height.

It was imperative the garden didn’t appear to be an afterthought, so we sourced the exact battens from the same timber mill and for all intents and purposes the whole garden looks like it was constructed at the same time, albeit 18 months apart. For the right hand boundary, we rotated the battens through 90° to help create the illusion that the garden was longer, and then reverted back to the verticals near the hot tub to make the enclosure feel taller.

ABOUT

Rachel Goozee Garden & Planting Design is a full-service garden design consultancy based in Brighton. It offers landscape design, horticultural advice and planting schemes for new and existing gardens and manages its projects from initial consultation, through the design process, construction and plant selection to final care and maintenance plans. rachelgoozee.com

A WARM WELCOME

Shrouded in swathes of long grasses and naturalistic planting, a new outdoor space for a house in Bourne Close provides an enclosed sanctuary for the owners. They were having an extension added and wanted a garden that could be designed around the architect’s drawings to ensure a seamless transition from the inside to outdoors.

The clients were looking for a garden that reflected their lifestyle, with a large lounging area and a hot tub to allow them to escape the stresses of daily life, as well as a flat lawn large enough for their two children to play football and have a trampoline.

The brief was otherwise quite open, with the clients happy for Victoria Truman Garden Design to be creative with the space, providing the maintenance was fairly low.

Timber cladding was part of the proposed plans for the new extension, which Truman used as inspiration for a large timber pergola and vertical timber slats that provide a sense of enclosure and immersion within the naturalistic planting scheme.

Victoria Truman Garden Design
Bourne Close

Five large multistem amelanchier trees and a few existing apple trees form canopies over perennials, grasses and bulbs, all of which are visible from the sunken seating area beneath the pergola, where a gas fire table and luxurious sofa form the ideal area for relaxation.

The pergola and slats, as well as the deck for the cedar clad hot tub area, were all constructed from FSC certified iroko timber to

add warmth. To accompany these, limestone paving from London Stone was used. The Jura Grey colour was initially chosen but, on further discussions with the client, this was switched to Jura Beige, with plank paving in the same colour surrounded by limestone chippings forming the paths to allow the client to walk barefoot through the garden. Steel edging was used over timber for its durability and longevity.

Cobtree Landscapes constructed the garden and the bespoke timber elements, overcoming issues with access in order to do so. Large lorries could not drive down the private road to the site, so deliveries had to be dropped off away from the house, adding days onto the build. Extra machinery was hired to make transporting the materials to and from the site as efficient as possible, and deliveries were coordinated to avoid rush hours so as not

REFERENCES

Landscape contractor

Cobtree Landscapes

cobtreelandscapes.co.uk

Decking

Southgate Timber southgatetimber.co.uk

Limestone paving London Stone londonstone.co.uk

Steel edging

Core Landscape Products corelp.co.uk

Plants

Provender Nurseries

provendernurseries.co.uk

How Green Nursery howgreennursery.co.uk

I selected iroko for its warm, golden tone and exceptional durability – perfect for the bespoke seating and slatted screens we designed for this space. Its natural resistance to the elements means it weathers beautifully over time with minimal upkeep. The FSC certification was non-negotiable; it was important to us that the timber was responsibly sourced, aligning with the project’s broader commitment to thoughtful, sustainable design.

Victoria Truman

to impact those living in the two other houses down the single-track lane.

Three level changes had to be considered, and as much of the soil from the sunken seating area was kept and reused to level off areas within the garden.

Truman returned to the garden a year after it was completed and says she was “mesmerised” at how it looked and felt, adding that the iroko timber had weathered beautifully and complemented the style of planting perfectly. It’s no wonder, then, that this is the garden designer’s favourite garden to date.

ABOUT

Victoria Truman graduated from the English Garden School. Her projects range from small urban gardens to country estates and heritage landscapes, as well as a Gold-medal-winning show garden. She enjoys building collaborative relationships with existing gardeners and can recommend gardeners for new spaces in order to ensure the success and maintenance of the garden as it develops over time. victoriatruman.com

After landscaping the garden a few years prior, the clients of this project – a couple and two growing teenagers – felt the space no longer fulfilled their needs. The couple’s busy schedule meant they needed a reasonably low maintenance space, and one that was accessible and safe for the new furry addition to their family.

As the garden was to be used primarily for dining out and entertainment, a fundamental consideration was making the patio large enough to accommodate six to eight people, with the ability to add additional seating for parties and larger social events. The main dining area is situated towards the back of the garden, with a built-in L shaped oak floating bench – which can accommodate at least four people – to maximise space and provide a secluded and cozy feel; while the contemporary style dining table and individual

chairs echo the sleek grey aesthetic of the patio paving.

To capitalise on the limited space available and to add a level of intrigue to the space, the garden was designed at a 45-degree angle, with triangular raised planting beds that come to a head in the middle, distinguishing the main seating area from the outdoor cooking area, and creating a pseudo entrance – framed by two fuchsia coloured planters – and a sense of journey throughout the space.

To discourage the young pup from digging up the plants, all beds were raised with brick cladding that complimented the house’s exterior and porcelain coping to mimic the main patio – creating a cohesive and high-quality finish through the space; porcelain paving was chosen for its hardwearing, non-slip surface which can be easily maintained.

Owing to the garden’s urban location, privacy was an essential part of the client’s brief. Pleached Carpinus trees to the back and left-hand corner and a feathered Birch in the right-hand corner were established to create canopy cover and provide the clients with their desired privacy. The rest of the planting has a

PLANTING

Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’ (D)

Ajuga reptans ‘Burgundy Glow’

Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’

Anemone × hybrida ‘September Charm’

Asplenium scolopendrium

Astrantia ‘Roma’PBR

Astrantia major ‘Star of Billion’PBR

Betula utilis subsp. jacquemontii

Carpinus betulus

Fritillaria meleagris

Galanthus nivalis

Hakonechloa macra

Veronica albicans (H)

Loropetalum chinense ‘Plum Gorgeous’

Muscari latifolium ‘Grape Ice’

“Japanese essence to it”, says Kay, with a constrained colour palette of green, white, and purple so as not to overwhelm the space. A purpled leaved Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ (A) was established in the left-hand raised bed, working as a focal point with underplanting made up of shade loving ferns, while the left-

Rosa ‘Albéric Barbier’ (Ra)

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Irene Paterson’ (m/v)

Polystichum setiferum

Trachelospermum jasminoides

Viburnum tinus

backing fence has been adorned with Rosa ‘Albéric Barbier’ (Ra) (which can have two flushes of flowers). The beds to the rear of the space which see more sunlight have been planted with Anemone × hybrida ‘September Charm’ and Astrantia major ‘Florence’PBR, both of which are known for their pollinator benefits, while Hakonechloa macra will soften the raised bed edges with Pittosporum and Hebe albicans shrubs for evergreen structure. Seasonal interest and pops of vibrant pink and purple are provided by Tulipa negrita in April and Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ in May, with early spring colour provided by Muscari latifolium ‘Grape Ice’. To provide some additional visual interest, Kay included fuchsia pink planters with a shade loving fern to the left of the doors and two planters in front of the raised beds with Loropetalum chinensis with flowers that echo the planter colour. All the plants selected are also not poisonous to dogs, another fundamental consideration for Kay when creating a garden all the family can enjoy.

ABOUT

REFERENCES

Planters

Europlanters europlanters.com

Bike shed

Power sheds powersheds.com

Plants

Provender Nurseries provendernurseries.co.uk

Roses

David Austin davidaustinroses.co.uk

Sarah Kay is an award-winning East London based garden designer with over 12 years’ experience of transforming awkward or neglected spaces into beautiful gardens which grow alongside your evolving families and lifestyle. A unique combination of a fine art and marketing background means that Kay has a great eye for colour, form and the creative use of space. sarahkaygardendesign.co.uk

All images © Ellie Walpole

OUTDOOR & GARDEN LIGHTING

Transform your outdoor space into a stunning haven with Lumena Lights’ innovative lighting solutions. Whether creating a cosy ambiance for evening relaxation, highlighting architectural features, or enhancing any garden’s natural beauty, Lumena off ers a range of versatile lighting options.

From energy-effi cient LED path lights to dynamic spotlights that accentuate your favourite trees or sculptures, to warm, inviting step lights for patios; there’s a perfect lighting solution for every outdoor setting.

Complete your projects with custom-designed lighting systems that bring both style and functionality, allowing enjoyment in any outdoor living space, day and night.

Canopies,

Fire

Garden

Garden

Garden

Home

Hot

Lighting

Outdoor

Outdoor

Planters

Pools

TOP PRODUCTS

FOR 2025

The

predicted bestsellers for the year ahead

Haddonstone

Romanesque Fountain

This is an attractive, low-level, self-circulating water feature which is perfect for smaller gardens, patios, or courtyards. Its design draws inspiration from Western Roman and Byzantine architecture. It is easy to install, low maintenance, frostproof and durable.

Price: £499 haddonstone.com/en-gb

Caribbean Blinds

Classic Pod

With outdoor living still trending, louvered roof pergolas remain a key focus. Bespoke pergolas like the Caribbean Blinds’ Classic Pod offer all-weather comfort, while custom lighting, heating, and side screens create the ultimate outdoor experience.

Price: From £12,495 cbsolarshading.co.uk

Garden House Design

Corradi Alba Butterfly Retractable Canopy in Petra

Corradi’s Alba Butterfly Canopy blends industrial angles with textured curves, encompassing everything from automatic fixed-screen blinds and sliding glass doors to warm LED lighting around the inner perimeter. Corradi’s updated range includes this year’s ‘in’ colour, Petra.

Price: From £10k (excl. VAT) gardenhousedesign.co.uk

KönigOutdoor

Outdoor kitchens

KönigOutdoor cabinetry can be designed to house a variety of built-in outdoor-rated cooking appliances, charcoal fuelled Kamado grills, gas grills with rotisseries, outdoor hobs, teppanyakis and pizza ovens.

Price: POA

konigoutdoor.co.uk

Landscapeplus

Aquascape Kits

Creating a pond or waterfall couldn’t be easier with Aquascape’s pond kits. Aquascape pond systems utilise the natural bacterial processes within ponds to keep the water healthy and clear, often incorporating water courses and rockways to imitate the positive impact of a natural stream. Its aim is to connect people to water the way nature intended.

Price: POA landscapeplus.com

Azpects

EASY Patio Joint Repair

EASY Patio Joint Repair is set to be a musthave in 2025, aligning with the growing trend for low maintenance outdoor spaces. This innovative solution restores failing mortar joints in patios and paths with ease. Applied dry and activated with water, it forms a strong, flexible, and durable joint that resists weeds, insects, and weather damage. Ideal for targeted repairs, it saves time and money while ensuring long-lasting, professional results.

Price: £29.99 azpects.com

Weaver Green

Darjeeling Clover Throw

The Darjeeling Clover Throw from Weaver Green has a soft green hue which perfectly aligns with this season’s trending ‘Pistachio’ palette. It’s made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. It is also inherently water and mould-resistant as well as machine washable. It can be used as an outdoor tablecloth, picnic blanket or throw to enhance any outdoor space.

Price: £75

weavergreen.com

Bradstone

Bradstone Piccolo Setts

Today’s consumers see driveways and patios as an extension of their home, blending style with function. Patterning has emerged as a dominant trend, offering a way to infuse personality and character into outdoor spaces. Piccolo Setts go beyond pavingthey reflect a sustainable, design-driven future, combining versatility and timeless aesthetics for those who value both form and function. They give the look of clay without the price tag.

Price: From £279.91 (excl. VAT) bradstone.com

Grillo

Grillo Outdoor Kitchens

The Outdoor Edit

The Classic Bistro - Sky Blue

Inspired by the nostalgia for carefree summer days, this bistro set in Sky Blue is the perfect whimsical touch for any outdoor space – from lushly landscaped gardens to colourful city balconies. Each set is complemented by matching, weather-resistant seat pads. The collection will launch this spring.

Price: £125 theoutdooredit.co.uk

Global Stone

Dinamika, Paradise

White

Paradise White from the Dinamika range, exclusive to Global Stone and Digby Stone, has been made with hyper-realistic stone textures. Using advanced Dinamika technology, they feature deep, authentic vein patterns delivering a three-dimensional look that mimics natural materials. These tiles blend fine craftmanship and authentic textures.

Price: POA globalstonepaving.co.uk

Millboard

Modello

Marshalls Infinia®

Infinia® revolutionises outdoor spaces with designs once hard to achieve in concrete, now available for both patios and driveways. Its advanced printed top layer delivers stunning, natural-look aesthetics with exceptional colour consistency, while the strong concrete base ensures lasting durability. Water, frost, stain, and slip resistance make it a practical yet stylish choice year round, with easy installation.

Price: POA marshalls.co.uk

With people seeking organic connection, the appeal of creating a fully functional, open-air entertaining area has never been stronger. The Grillo Outdoor Kitchen allows homeowners to breathe fresh life into their outside spaces, while adding value to properties. The outdoor kitchen is now a social powerhouse; it has evolved from a niche luxury to a musthave-feature for homeowners.

Price: From £5,910 grilloliving.com

Modello by Millboard aligns perfectly with trends in customisation, luxury aesthetics, and low-maintenance living. It is available in two styles – Linear and Contour and creates more than 50 unique patterns. It is made from Millboard’s resin mineral composite, with one-third recycled materials.

Price: From £178.52 per m2 millboard.com

Renson Amani

The Amani aligns with the growing demand for high-end, customisable outdoor living solutions. Its sleek, weather-resistant design fits the trend of blending indoor and outdoor spaces, while versatile attachment options – such as glass sliding doors and fabric screens – enhance adaptability. With integrated heating and premium construction, it offers year-round comfort, making it an ideal addition to modern outdoor lifestyles.

Price: POA renson.net/en-gb

Solus Decor

Luna 42 Fire Bowl

Teakunique

Banda Outdoor Sofa Set

This outdoor sofa set is the newest – and most contemporary – addition to Teakunique’s soft seating range. Carefully crafted using a beautiful blend of materials, the sofa and armchairs combine a solid teak base with an aluminium backrest covered in water and UV resistant grey rope weave. Luxurious pale grey cushions and a coffee table complete the contemporary look, which works as well in a country garden as it does on a city terrace.

Price: £3,775 teakunique.co.uk

Composite Prime Elements

Elements Advanced Polymer decking offers the beauty of premium hardwoods without the upkeep. Made from 100% polymers, Elements resists moisture, UV rays, fading, staining, mould, and rot for decades. With a low-gloss, wire-brushed finish in three rich colors, they mimic exotic wood variations. Available in three widths and with the ability to curve, Elements provides endless design possibilities for a unique, long-lasting deck.

Price: From £110/m2 (excl. VAT) composite-prime.com

The Luna 42 Fire Bowl by Solus Decor is set to be a standout outdoor feature in 2025, blending modern design, durability, and functional warmth. As outdoor living spaces become year-round retreats, this sleek fire bowl creates a stunning focal point for entertaining and relaxation. Its minimalist aesthetic and high-performance materials make it a must-have for stylish outdoor settings.

Price: From £6,348 solusdecor.co.uk

Torc Pots

Bespoke fire bowls and tables

Torc bespoke fire bowls and fire tables will elevate an outdoor space and are perfect for the UK’s unpredictable spring and summer evenings. Designed for both style and warmth, they allow a client to enjoy their garden for longer. Whether as a statement piece, a stylish spot for drinks and canapés, or simply a cosy heat source, these fire tables do it all.

Price: From £1,800 torcpots.com

Hudson Lighting

Contract spike light

Value engineering has been the phrase for 2024, so Hudson Lighting expects to see that continue this year. It has designed and built a spike light that works with value engineering in mind, while still maintaining a 10-year warranty, 25-year circularity guarantee, replaceable components including the LED and IP67 – which is suitable for temporary submersion under water.

Price: £83 (trade) hudsonlighting. co.uk

Life/Style Freddie Strickland

Do you have a preferred design style?

I don’t subscribe to one rigid style as every project is unique. I enjoy working with my clients to create truly bespoke gardens that feel important and precious to them. That said, some recurring themes run through my work. I focus heavily on plants, place sustainability at the heart of every decision, and am always looking to use natural materials in innovative ways. I love creating gardens that feel immersive, where people are surrounded by planting rather than just observing it from a distance.

Who has been your biggest inspiration in the industry?

I’ve been very fortunate to work alongside Tim Rees of Trees Associates for several years, whose mentorship and creative influence has greatly shaped my approach to design. His deep understanding of evolving landscapes and sustainable practices has been invaluable.

I also credit Matt James, my tutor in 2017, whose depth of knowledge, particularly in planting, has been an ongoing source of inspiration. He has a remarkable ability to provide exactly the right insight at the right moment, always with a characteristic modesty that makes learning from him a privilege. Beyond that, I’m continually inspired by the craftspeople and growers I collaborate with. Their expertise and dedication bring a garden to life, transforming it into something truly special.

Where in the world inspires you?

The landscapes of South West England have had a profound influence on me. Cornwall is a place where land and sea meet in dramatic fashion, with rugged cliffs and a raw natural beauty that feels both wild and inviting. Remarkable gardens emerge from the crevices of the landscape, made possible by shelterbelt planting that creates microclimates for subtropical species rarely seen in the UK.

The award-winning garden designer talks about being inspired by landscapes in the south-west and his influential mentors

Where’s on the bucket list?

I’m in the process of planning a trip to Japan to explore its gardens and landscapes. The harmony between nature and craftsmanship, along with the deep respect for time that allows a garden to evolve, is something I find truly inspiring.

What are you looking forward to seeing in outdoor living this year?

I’m excited to see a shift in client thinking, with more individuals embracing the idea of planting trees in smaller urban gardens for both interest and shade. In the past, south-facing aspects were highly sought after, but with a warming climate, there’s now a greater opportunity to grow in part-shaded areas provided by tree cover. This shift not only provides more forgiving growing conditions while assisting in

the mitigation of global warming, but also offers exciting new possibilities for garden design.

Is there a particular product or brand catching your eye?

Arvensis Perennials is a constant source of inspiration. As a small-scale nursery, they propagate many of their own plants, grow peat-free, and cultivate a wide variety of species in their beautiful garden, which is always evolving. Their passion for plants and sustainability really shines through in everything they do.

How about a plant species that you’re eager to include?

I’m a sucker for soft yellow flowers, so I’m planning to plant Weigela middendorffiana at the next available opportunity. It’s a stunning shrub and a must-have for a wildlife garden, offering beauty and a haven for pollinators.

Can you tell us about an upcoming project that you’re excited about?

I’m currently working on several exciting urban projects in London, but one that stands out is a

I’m a sucker for soft yellow flowers, so I’m planning to plant Weigela middendorffiana at the next available opportunity

garden in south Cornwall, located within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It’s a remote, beautiful part of Cornwall, rich in Bronze Age history and previously heavily mined. The owner is incredibly invested, thoughtful, and brilliant to work with.

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