The Design Process

Meeting you  (first 30 minutes FREE*)

Following your initial contact, a date is arranged to meet up and view the site. At this first consultation, we will listen to your ideas and make our suggestions. You can then decide whether you would like us to work for you.  You will be under no obligation to decide at the time of this meeting

*within 30 mile radius of our office.  We are happy to travel longer distances
but this may incur a charge to be agreed beforehand

Setting the brief

Once we are commissioned to design your garden, the next stage of the visit would establish the overall brief of the project, some of the areas to be noted at this meeting being...

Budget
Garden  function
Preferred styles
Colour schemes

The points discussed at this meeting will be confirmed by letter to ensure we have correctly interpreted your instructions.  This  service  is charged at an hourly rate, whereas the following items are set at fixed prices...


Site survey

An  accurate survey of the garden is needed before any further work can take place.  This can be undertaken by us, or in the case of larger sites, (or where there are issues such as drainage problems or significant changes in levels), a land surveyor will be employed.  This is an expensive part of the process, but forms the basis of the whole design and is absolutely vital in order to avoid expensive mistakes at a later stage


Concept drawings

This is a basic plan of the garden to show the location of the  components of the design.  The purpose  of this is to  discuss and agree the functional layout before proceeding to the more detailed presentation  plan.  Mood boards may also be helpful at this stage


Presentation plan

This is an attractive document showing the garden as it will look at completion with all the components of the design included.  It provides detailed information for the client, designer and contractor.  Once this plan is completed, any amendments  are chargeable separately


Supporting visuals

These often accompany presentation plans and can be in the form of artistic impressions showing how the garden will look from different angles or perspectives.  Construction drawings can be done in some cases for the landscapers to give a clearer specification for building works.  Mood boards can also be produced, which can include photographs of  suggested plants, landscaping materials , colour schemes, etc.


Planting plan and schedule

This document can work alongside the presentation plan.  It names and shows the location and number of plants to be retained or added.  It is a useful document for the client for future reference, and for the landscaper or designer when ordering  and planting out