Earthworks Garden Design

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!

Garden steps and ramps: coping with a sloping garden 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

If you have a few minutes to feed your soul watch this beautiful animation. https://theunboundedspirit.com/secret-life-of-flowers/?fbclid=IwAR3Yy68OOOk1A-uIn-qGUlWqTzfkF9ATjvZ7-rJzQB4Nmf1t2orbxBgEugg

Stunning 3-Minute Animation Beautifully Illustrates the Secret Life of Flowers 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.

Garden of Eden: The Most Beautiful Spot in Brooklyn Happens to Be in an Industrial Park (Seriously) - Gardenista High levels of arsenic and lead in the soil, a decrepit factory building, a courtyard roofed over with half-rotted plywood and tarpaper and paved in concre

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

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.

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. https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr/viewevent?EFID=15508&ESRC=CRM

RHS Garden Harlow Carr | Events & attractions in Harrogate, Yorkshire / RHS Gardening 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.

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

The Beauty of Decay: 10 Perennials to Add Structure to a Winter Garden - Gardenista 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

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

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

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

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/

Now Enrolling for 2020: Introduction to Garden Design Course at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Ever more reason to garden slowly and with hand tools. It's all about the gentle process of looking and responding proportionally... https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/leaf-blowers-insect-noise-pollution-germany-gardening-a9208366.html?fbclid=IwAR1fjKdktrGux3HE0vUTjjGiHXL4YxruyJ_aCsvJuFbEHYMKzzqm88TOhxo

Leaf blowers contributing to 'insect armageddon' and should be avoided, German government warns Environment ministry stops short of decreeing outright ban

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/

Focus on Garden Design Drawings

/www.gardenista.com/posts/slope-garden-7-smart-solutions/?fbclid=IwAR3C2_gj5jHliLCnrMkLn1JyywB3Xi4SWbpnf7_X9KzJFi6HWISAdAba8rk

What to Do with the Slope in Your Garden? 6 Attractive Solutions - Gardenista The degree of difficulty indisputably rises when you're gardening on a slope (pardon my word play here). There are ways, fortunately, to deal with uneven l

We had so much fun on the course at RHS Garden Harlow Carr last Friday. We started the day with an illustrated lecture about designing a successful kitchen garden and then did an analysis of the herbaceous borders at the gardens; and finished the day arranging and rearranging some lovely herbaceous perennials! Hands on learning is so great. Soon bookings will open for the 2020 courses including the Introduction to Garden Design, which is for complete beginners!

So excited to tell you about the new Forging Ahead with Garden Design course - a follow on for the Introduction to Garden Design - which I will be teaching at RHS Garden Harlow Carr from Friday. Read more about it here! earthworksgardendesign.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/forging-ahead-with-garden-design-at-rhs-garden-harlow-carr/

New Course: Forging Ahead with Garden Design at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

I have been working with some lovely people over a few years now to develop a garden that surrounds their beautiful old house (the oldest part was built in the 17th Century). We are being careful to take things slowly and respond sensitively to the site and building. Last week I returned to meet and get the Brief for the next stage, and while there I had a quick look at the borders we designed last year. They have gone a bit boom! There is still mid- to late summer colour to come, including graceful white Veronicastrum spires to appear towards the back. And it was buzzing with bees! Thankful for my job!

Cottage Garden Flowers: Bleeding Hearts and Dutchman's Breeches Dutchman's breeches and bleeding hearts are delicate woodland flowers, appearing in spring with heart-shaped blossoms and ferny foliage. See more growing and care tips from the editors of Gardenista.

Lots of new enquiries at the moment, it's so lovely to be meeting new people and having exciting conversations about plants and gardens stimulating creativity and dreams...

Snowdrops are up here in Yorkshire and here are some demure beauties grown by garden designer Richard Easton at Richard Easton Gardens.

Do you have a tiny city garden? Let me work with you to design an oasis! https://earthworksgardendesign.wordpress.com/2016/09/18/designing-a-site-responsive-garden-in-a-crowded-urban-area-of-leeds/

Designing a Site Responsive Garden in an Urban Area If you have seen my website you will know that I have been designing gardens since 2003. I haven’t counted but it feels like I have designed hundreds of gardens in that time. Now here’s a sec…

A Perfect Gift for Your Loved One: The Introduction to Garden Design is a short adult leisure course at Royal Horticultural Society Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate. Your friend or partner will have enormous fun being creative and designing with plants and nature in early 2019. Whisk away the winter blues and wallow in garden design fun, with me as the Course Tutor! Enrol now, places are limited! https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr/viewevent?EFID=15053&ESRC=CRM

RHS Garden Harlow Carr | Events & attractions in Harrogate, Yorkshire / RHS Gardening 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.

I have made a new blog setting out the various types of drawing that a good garden designer will make for you! Please read, comment and share, thanks! https://earthworksgardendesign.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/focus-on-garden-design-drawings/

Focus on Garden Design Drawings

Delighted to say that enrollment has opened for a new garden design course at RHS Garden Harlow Carr! I will be teaching Forging Ahead with Garden Design next September, so if you have already done the Introduction to Garden Design course now is the time to further your plant knowledge, delve deeper into garden design, and have a ton of fun! Can't wait to see you there! =) www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr/viewevent?EFID=15054&ESRC=CRM

RHS Garden Harlow Carr | Events & attractions in Harrogate, Yorkshire / RHS Gardening 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.

I have been excited to be involved with the plant selection for the new landscape at in Buttershaw where the people at have designed and are now implementing a sustainable, wildlife-friendly scheme which focusses on the well-being of the workers at the site. Isabel Swift has worked with specialists to design and install a rainwater harvesting system on the roof to water all the plants; planting includes loads of food for pollinating insects, and people too! Workers will be able to pick their apples for their lunches at work; and a whole world of aromatic herbs are going into the ground this week. What an ambitious project! Lemon Balm specialise in school and community garden projects which support health and well-being: https://lemonbalm.org.uk/