When we set out to create a landscape garden, we like to take inspiration from the wonders of nature that are all around us in this wonderful part of the world. Inspired by the rugged moorland landscape and the beautiful valley meadows, pastures and woodland of the Wharfe Valley, we’ll make sure your garden is unique and is sympathetic with its location.
Being at the southern end of the Yorkshire Dales, Ilkley has a more forgiving climate than some other parts of Yorkshire but the planting schemes we devise carefully take into consideration the unique challenges that gardens face in this part of the country. The trees, shrubs and flowering plants we select are specially chosen not only to bring pleasure season after season, but also to reflect the client’s brief, the style of the garden they have chosen and their own gardening capabilities.
When clients come to us they frequently have firm ideas about what they want their garden to be like and these ideas often reflect the colours and textures of the landscape surrounding the town of Ilkley including natural stone, water features and indigenous planting which is likely to survive our harsh winter months.
Many of our clients are inspired by the work of one of our heroes, Capability Brown, whose landscaping can be seen at Harewood House, close to Ilkley. This 18th century garden shows Brown’s true mastery of landscape and design, setting the house within rolling parkland which provide stunning views, and providing the owners with more accessible areas such as the Herbaceous Border. Creating separate spaces within gardens is a theme we draw on from time to time for our clients to provide a sense of intimate ‘rooms’ which draw the garden together.
Our design process is a simple one, and one that fully involves the clients and their ideas and aspirations. We make a site visit and talk to them about exactly what they want. Then we’ll create an outline proposal. If this meets with their approval, or even with changes they’ve suggested, we’ll make a master plan – this will include planting plans, any schemes for hard landscaping and even lighting suggestions. Only then will we implement the design and work towards the finished garden. We find that close collaboration with the client helps us fulfil their ambitions for their garden and creates a real sense of achievement when we’ve finished.
To transform your dream garden into a reality, get in touch with us today.
“John and Josh worked with us through the initial design stages to the completion of the of the project creating a garden we are proud of. The hard landscaping gives us the formal structure we were looking for and the new planting provides us with fantastic seasonal colour and texture.” – Robert Pettit, Harrogate