Design Services

Introduction:
Flora Design is a garden design business based in Herefordshire on the English/Welsh border. Our 21st century gardens and homes are often needed to be work, play and relaxing spaces. I offer an all-round design service from an initial meeting through to the build and planting of your beautiful new garden.
Embrace the joy of connecting with nature and let us help you design a garden that not only looks beautiful but also nurtures well-being. There is real pleasure in kicking-back and and enjoying listening to birdsong, watching butterflies and pollinators in your own beautiful garden.
I understand it can sometimes feel daunting to know what to do with your garden and where to start. Maybe there are slopes, or it feels like an awkward shape. Maybe you’ve moved to a new house, inherited a garden or feel your existing garden needs a change but are not sure what to do.
I love talking about gardens! It’s exciting talking about change. I can bring a fresh perspective to your garden space.

- Full design service from initial meeting to finished garden
- Unique designs
- All gardens considered.
- Whole or part-garden designs
- Maintenance Plans
- Planting Plans
- Incorporating wildlife friendly schemes.
- A garden designer can bring fresh ideas and a professional perspective to help you have a garden that feels more like you. I’ll be there to guide you through the process.
- Professional Design Plan. Your unique garden design plan is an important discussion document enabling you to visualise your new garden. It also provides an estimate of costs. Depending on your budget, more or less of the design brief can be realised and I can help guide you.
- Client Control and Budget. Having a design plan enables you to make choices. Amendments can be made in the early design stages which can save you money from the outset before any building work begins. Also having a plan means you have tighter control over your garden budget. It may also be an option to stage the garden build (depending on the plan) and spread the costs with a second or third build happening over a period of time.
- Expert Planting Plans. Professional planting plans are complex creations. The plant choices are tailored to the ‘feel’ of your new garden; ‘Right plant, right place’ is key. Plants are skilfully selected based on my experience to provide rewarding foliage, flowers or berries which enhance each season as well as incorporating wildlife-friendly plants. The soft landscaping stage is an important part of the design and is the final and exciting stage of your new garden, bringing it all together.
- Advice. I can advise you on maintenance of your garden.
Geranium Orion and Sisyrinchium
1. Initial Meeting: This is an opportunity to meet and discuss ideas. It also allows me to view your garden and understand how you would like to use it. This 1-hour consultation is free. If you would like to proceed with design work, a quotation will be put together for the the sketch plan and site survey.
2. Site Survey: We need to measure your garden space to ensure the design is accurate to your existing space.The survey involves measuring your garden, its boundaries; marking features such as existing trees and buildings.This includes a Site Analysis noting sun/shade, damp/dry and soil conditions.
Levels Survey. The majority of gardens have some slopes and it is necessary to measure these to help clarify the contours of your garden and anticipate the need for structures such as steps, ramps or retaining walls. Both these surveys are for office use only.
Larger /Complex Gardens: We may need an independent land surveyor to be brought in to carry out a topographic survey. This survey will be the property of the client. Note: A Site Analysis will still need to be carried out.
3. Sketch Plan: This is a outline design demonstrating your new garden floorplan. Any revisions will be made at this stage. Once approved, a Master Plan will be drawn up and detailed plans will be prepared.
4. Detailed Drawings: Using the Master Plan, detailed documents are produced for the contractor so they can build the garden to the intended design and detail. These are also known as Specification documents. They include:
i) Setting out plans (detailed layout plans showing precise dimensions, drainage, ground levels.
ii) Construction drawings may be necessary to show the detailed design elements in a garden such as a step, wall, pond or pergola.
iii) A written specification document accompanies the other drawings with additional written detail.
5. Tendering: If required, the project can be tendered. Approved contractors would all receive identical packs of drawings and information to enable fair and competitive quotations.
6. Planting Plans and Planting:
A detailed planting plan is produced for all the planting beds. Plants are carefully chosen to suit the soil conditions, aspect (sun or shade), and complement the design and surroundings.
High quality plants are ordered from reputable nurseries according to the planting plan. Planting is arranged by Flora Design.
7. Garden Maintenance Plan
We will provide you with a maintenace plan to help you care for your beautiful new garden.
8.Your new garden.
And now its over to you! We will be there for advice. I will make a 1 year anniversary garden check to see how it is progressing.
I use strong design principles to create a well balanced and beautiful spaces, whilst also, incorporating my client’s ideas and wishes.
The hard landscaping is key in providing a practical and aesthetically pleasing framework that fulfils the brief, whether there are entertaining spaces, changes of level or lawns.
The hard lanscaping should link the house and garden and it should be pleasing structurally, with or without plants. And importantly it sets the stage for the soft landscaping.
Soft Landscaping. The plants are understandably what most people think of as ‘the garden’ part. When creating the detailed planting plans I am always thinking about the intended mood, and style. My plant choices will also reinforce the intended feel of the overall design in the immediate planting beds but also relating to the wider garden. I love this part of the process; its like 3D painting with plants and it’s exciting and satisfying being able to orchestrate that mood (going back to my ‘not a jungle’ see About Page!)
Location has a key influence on the way the design unfolds. How the house and garden interacts with the immediate surrounding landscape (or urbanscape), informs and influences the design and planting.
Biodiversity is important and I like to incorporate as many wildlife-friendly plants as possible into a scheme to enrich and enhance the garden space and to connect as much as possible with the surrounding environment.
Collaboration. In creating a new garden, I work closely with clients. It is wonderful when we are collectively fired up with the vision of the new garden.
I charge £50 per hour. Each design plan is a minimum 1 days work (8 hours).
Site visits are £25/half hour and there are minimum 2 per garden build. Usually there is 1 visit per week.