The essence of a garden designer is to please the client by producing a design in sympathy with the house and its environment while avoiding costly mistakes. We offer a bespoke garden design service mainly in North and West Norfolk, involving a site visit to discuss the clients requirements. This can be followed by a full garden design or suggestions enabling the client to carry out the work themselves. We can offer full planting plans or advice on planting and other garden queries, be they about design, planting or hard landscaping. I work with an expert landscaping contractor, Paul, and his team, who carry out the construction and building of the garden.
About Us
In line with current thinking, Gwen’s current emphasis is on informality and sustainability. Her own award winning cottage style garden has year round interest. Mixed borders of shrubs, perennials and other structural plants help, with many plants self-seeding giving a soft cottage garden effect. Watering the garden and the use of pesticides are avoided if possible, thus only those plants which enjoy the conditions provided remain healthy and survive. She also endeavors to have flowering plants throughout the year as a nectar source for bees and other insects. Since following a pesticide free regime, she has had few problems with garden pests as the beneficial wildlife species help to keep these in check.
Gwen has had a life-long interest in plants and gardens. She graduated from Nottingham University with a B.Sc. in Horticulture after which she worked as a horticulturalist in Tanzania with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). This was followed by a number of years in the agrochemical business. She then decided to follow her earlier ambition of becoming a garden designer, studying with the internationally renowned garden designer, John Brookes. A few years later she took a full-time post-graduate diploma course at one of the top colleges in the country, The Oxford College of Garden Design run by Duncan Heather. Gwen has been running a successful garden design business for a number of years.
Fees
Designs from £350 plus expenses
Gardening advice: £20/ half hour plus expenses. Minimum charge: £40
Contact Details
Gwen Leary
Ilex Garden Designs
12 Sandringham Road
Dersingham
King’s Lynn
PE31 6LL
Tel. 01485 541755
Mob. 07833 321055
Email: ilexgardendesigns@uwclub.net
Example Projects
Swipe through some of our previous projects in the gallery below.
