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Garden Design
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Sunny garden path surrounded by colourful flowers, leading to a stone statue acting as a focal point under a wooden pergola.

Garden Focal Points: What They Are and How to Use Them

A well-chosen focal point can completely transform how a garden looks and feels. In this guide, discover what garden focal points are, why they matter, and how to choose and position them to create a beautiful, balanced outdoor space.

Ian Green

5 min read

Sun shining through tall trees into a kitchen garden with a metal and timber pergola, perennial planting with red Geums, and a calming water rill.

Gardens Aren’t Just Seen - Why the Best Gardens Sound as Good as They Look

A garden can look perfect and still fall flat. After 25 years designing gardens across Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and beyond, Ian Green explains why sound - wind through grasses, moving water, birdsong, is one of the most overlooked ingredients in a garden that actually feels good to spend time in.

Ian Green

5 min read

Coloured scaled design showing new garden layout

Designing with Nature in Mind: A Guide to Sustainable Garden Design

Good garden design doesn’t fight the landscape, it works with it. In this guide, garden designer, Ian Green, explores the five core principles of sustainable garden design: from building healthy soil and managing water wisely, to choosing the right plants for your conditions and creating space for wildlife to thrive. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to make your existing garden more resilient and beautiful, this is where to begin.

Ian Green

5 min read

Small Garden Design Ideas UK: 10 Ways to Make a Compact Garden Feel Bigger

Small garden design ideas UK: 10 expert tips to make a compact outdoor space feel bigger — from zoning and levels to lighting and planting.

Ian Green

6 min read

Garden Design ideas to inspire you

Transform your outdoor space with these expert garden design ideas. From minimalist layouts and natural stone features to sustainable planting and personal touches - discover how to create a garden that works for your lifestyle and stands the test of time.

Ian Green

6 min read

Mastering the Art of Garden and Landscape Design

Planning is the backbone of any successful garden. It is where ideas take shape and practicalities are addressed. I recommend starting with a simple sketch. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just enough to map out zones and features. Consider these key elements: Structure - Paths, patios, fences Planting - Choose plants suited to your soil and climate. Functionality - Seating areas, play zones, vegetable beds A well-planned garden balances these elements feeling cohesive and in

Ian Green

2 min read

Water cascading into a rill providing the sound of moving water.

Why Water Makes Gardens Work

There’s something quietly magnetic about water in a garden. It doesn’t shout for attention — it simply invites you in. A ripple. A soft splash. A shimmer in the light. Whether the space is for reflection, family life, or encouraging biodiversity, water can become the calm anchor that helps everything make sense. It softens the edges. It draws people in. And often, it’s the feature that gives a garden its true feeling of life.

Ian Green

3 min read

Thinking in progress.

This isn’t a place for trends or quick tips. It’s where I share what I’m working on, what I’m noticing, and the thoughts that shape the way I design.

Sometimes it’s a glimpse behind the scenes. Sometimes it’s an answer to a question I get asked a lot. Always, it’s about helping people make better decisions, whether they’re just starting out, mid-project, or still working out what’s possible.