Earthworks Garden Design

25/02/2020

Having a slope in your garden is a huge advantage when it comes to garden design. Slopes give us the opportunity to create a sequence of spaces ranging from enclosed and intimate, to partly hidden, to fully out in the open. As a designer I play with a range of sizes of space and combine them with degrees of enclosure and open-ness, using level changes, planting and occasionally structures, to achieve a number of uses: from sitting out with friends to eat in the sun, or dappled shade to a hidden swing seat where you might read a story to your children, or a completely hidden sunny corner just for you, your G&T and a book!

Expert advice from Andrew Wilson on how to cope with level changes in the garden, with ideas on including steps and ramps with safety and accessibility in mind

05/02/2020

If you have a few minutes to feed your soul watch this beautiful animation.

This animated video illustrates in a breathtaking way the life cycle of flowers, revealing their “secret” world that most of us have never yet really payed attention to.

27/01/2020

21/01/2020

Some I presented to in Leeds on Sunday! Now to get into the nuts and bolts of how it will be made for them.

03/01/2020

Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the rest as much as I did. Can't believe it's only been two days back at work as I have finished a Concept Plan all ready to present to garden design Clients in Halifax tomorrow! It's great the way a week off can put life in perspective; and lovely to be back. Here's a sketch I made to go with the Concept Plan. It is a sloping garden with existing trees which will all be retained, of course. We had a topographical survey made and are using wire baskets filled with the local stone that is all around the site to retain the slope, just enough to make a flat place to sit and enjoy a fire. All the tree roots have been taken into account and all the wildlife will be respected in their lovely homes.

02/01/2020

If you are planning your diary for 2020 now is the time to book the oh so fun Introduction to Garden Design course at RHS Garden Harlow Carr for September! The January course is full, so grab a place for September now. You will plan your garden as a whole and have the beautiful, functional sanctuary you have always dreamed of.

Enjoy a day out at the Beautiful RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Join in the fun with all year round events. Free to RHS Members.

10/12/2019

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/landscaping-ideas-10-best-perennials-winter-gardens/?fbclid=IwAR0sEZb9fhIf8YZuInPr71F1Q-YTdoo2qX8PAJrjQdGUYULfD5KdLTWcB4w

As gardens fade and the days darken, it’s tempting to forget about what’s going on outdoors until early spring when everything jolts back into life. But th

29/11/2019

Who is already enjoying the cold?

The Hillier Garden, just one of our featured Winter Gardens, box topiary with Micanthus grasses in the background. For Winter Gardens near you visit: https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/seasonal/winter-gardens.html

27/11/2019

So impressed with who have planted 1,000 trees! www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18058682.askham-bryan-college-plants-trees-help-tackle-climate-change/?ref=fbshr&fbclid=IwAR0Vx_NV9wqHvhPRwfpVXqOgd79cTkqeZL6UikM9wtxq70MNDqmzdKcAOX0

ASKHAM Bryan College is to plant 1,000 trees in its grounds this week to back the fight against climate change.

25/11/2019

Introduction to Garden Design RHS Garden Harlow Carr
is enrolling now. Join us in January or September 2020 to design your own garden: it may well be the most fun you have all year! Read my blog for more info and brilliant reviews, and call or email me for more information: earthworksgardendesign.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/new-garden-design-course-at-rhs-garden-harlow-carr/

21/11/2019

Ever more reason to garden slowly and with hand tools. It's all about the gentle process of looking and responding proportionally...

Environment ministry stops short of decreeing outright ban

10/10/2019

Today I have been designing a fence around an existing tree, and making sure there is space for wildlife to move from garden to garden through the fence too. This is important because if it is not carefully detailed when the builders turn up to do the work they might decide it's best to remove the tree rather than take the more difficult route of making a bespoke fence. You can read more about the types of drawing a garden designer will do for you on my blog. The link is below and here's how it starts: "When engaging a garden designer you should look for someone with a deep understanding of what is required to deliver a garden that is beautiful all year, responds to your needs and lifestyle, and also responds to the unique nature of your garden site. Garden design is a profession that encompasses horticulture, soil science, design and also communication. With regards to communication, a professional garden designer will be able to communicate well face to face as well as preparing written documents and drawings to show the various aspects of the design proposals. We do both illustrative drawings which will show you how it would look and feel to be in a space, as well as technical drawings to show how the various aspects of the garden should be constructed and how the planting should be laid out." You can see a picture of the fence I am designing around a tree in the comments! https://earthworksgardendesign.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/focus-on-garden-design-drawings/