Fennel Garden Design
I am a professional garden designer specialising in planting schemes which provide seasonal interest throughout the entire year. I work with you to create an inviting area to relax with friends or a tranquil space to unwind at the end of a busy day. Beautiful colour combinations are chosen to suit your taste alongside an evergreen framework to add height and structure to your garden across the seasons. Contrasting shapes and textures of flowers and foliage are carefully selected to complement any existing planting. If your garden has been newly landscaped and you have been left with empty borders, I can help you fill them!
Recent Projects
Cirencester
Originally laid to lawn, this sun-soaked front garden was redesigned with areas of secluded seating, immersed in vibrant planting. The addition of a pond has transformed this space into a haven for wildlife.
“We were impressed with Amanda’s gentle and professional approach. Every step of the way we felt she applied the same level of care and interest as if it were her own garden. Amanda has changed our garden from an ordinary space to a calm oasis of colour all year round. Her expertise in biodiversity has meant our garden is now full of birds and insects. We absolutely love it!”
— Rachel
Devon
A feature border 18 metres long, planted in a naturalistic style with swathes of long-flowering perennials which are magnets for the bees and butterflies. Softened with grasses which catch the autumn light and add movement with the slightest breeze. Nothing is cut back until February, as the seedheads provide for the birds, and the border takes on a sculptural beauty of its own in winter.
“We are so grateful for the incredible transformation that Amanda brought to our garden. It was a major undertaking for us, and her expertise and vision were invaluable throughout the process. The results are stunning. We enjoy huge drifts of daffodils, followed by later spring blooms, before our borders explode with a colourful blend of flowering herbaceous plants and grasses that continue to provide interest throughout the autumn and winter. Her amazing knowledge of plants and natural design flair have helped us realize a garden we truly love and enjoy. Thank you, Amanda. “
— Rosie
Bisley
Sun-loving, drought-tolerant Mediterranean style planting on one side, with shade-loving plants repeated on the other side. Silvery green foliage of different textures, combined with calming shades of blue, soft pink and white bring both sides together harmoniously. Wisteria will be cascading from the pergola arch before long.
“ We approached Amanda after having our garden newly landscaped, with no idea of what to plant where. With a colour scheme in mind and a love of roses, Amanda was able to inspire us with some images which led to a garden that we adore.”
— Lisa
Cirencester
Additional beds were created to soften the hard edges of the patios and add depth to the garden. Planting is wrapped around the seating areas giving interesting viewpoints. Evergreen shrubs form the backbone of the garden and were chosen to complement the beautiful cotswold stone wall. These were combined with a succession of long-flowering perennials bringing colour across the seasons. Many of the plants in the shade were selected for architectural qualities. The new corner seating area is a suntrap surrounded by aromatic plants such as Lavender.
Initial visit
This is free of charge and involves me listening to how you would like to use your space. We can also discuss your thoughts on the existing planting and any styles you may be drawn to. It is often helpful to consider viewpoints from the house and to make the most of potential seating areas within the garden. I will talk through the design process so you can get a feel for how I work.
Next Steps
If you wish to proceed, I will send you a quote based on our discussions. On acceptance of the quote, I will provide
Images to help you visualise any ideas for the new planting
Options for a new layout of beds and suggestions for removing any existing planting, where appropriate
I will then produce a detailed professional planting plan, drawn to scale. The scheme will factor in evergreen proportions with interest and colour across the seasons, whilst considering light levels and soil conditions within your garden.
How much will it cost?
This depends on the size of the borders and the complexity involved. On average, the design process outlined above costs between £1200 and £1500.
Where do I get the plants from?
The plants are sourced from local nurseries at wholesale prices to keep the cost down for you. You will receive a separate quote for the plants which we can adjust to suit your budget. Planting can be arranged at an extra cost. Recommendations can also be made on how to improve soil quality before planting.
What I offer
Looking after your new garden
Many clients want to learn more about gardening and are keen to nurture their newly planted garden. To support you in this, I provide a Plant Directory of all your new plants with key features to help you care for them.
You can also receive a bespoke Maintenance Schedule which lists monthly tasks to help you to get the best out of your garden. We can factor in the level of maintenance when planning, to reflect your lifestyle.
I offer seasonal visits when we can work together on maintenance jobs. This is an opportunity to assess how plants are growing and to ask any questions.
Planting for Wildlife
I am passionate about working with nature to support wildlife and improve biodiversity. My planting schemes aim to provide food and shelter for birds. A succession of flowering shrubs and perennials ensure that pollen and nectar are available all year round, especially in the winter.
About me
I have always loved plants and have been fascinated by the science behind them. After teaching Biology for many years, I changed direction and studied for a Diploma in Creative Planting Design at The Cotswold Gardening School. I have been creating planting schemes ever since. I usually work independently but sometimes I work alongside landscape designers, mainly within Gloucestershire.
Transforming gardens into beautiful spaces to support nature and our own well-being has been extremely rewarding . It has been a joy to revisit gardens to see how they have evolved over time.
Testimonials
“Amanda greatly helped me to develop my 'blank canvas' garden, creating a detailed plan, presenting plant suggestions, and producing a maintenance booklet for me to refer to. She has a true love of plants and a wealth of plant knowledge, which Amanda is more than willing to share as she wants others to enjoy plants and gardens as much as she does. I simply could not have created the garden I wanted without Amanda's help! I cannot recommend her enough.”
— Jennifer
“It was such an enjoyable experience to work with Amanda, as she listened to our ideas to gain a good understanding of what we wanted to achieve from the garden. Starting with just terraced lawns, she has provided us with a delightful and varied planting schemes, reflecting our thoughts and her expansive knowledge and vision, to create our Mediterranean style garden. We could not be more delighted with the garden that Amanda has designed for us. As relatively novice gardeners, it was also really helpful to be provided with a catalogue of plants and a maintenance plan.”
— Elaine
“From the outset, Amanda carefully listened to our ideas and assessed every inch of the space. Her detailed plans, mood boards, and colour charts conveyed her vision and helped us understand the potential of our tired and overgrown garden. She created a strong structure and backdrop that seamlessly integrated new borders and spaces, giving our garden a sense of coherence and purpose. Our garden is now a truly relaxing space, perfect for both entertaining and quiet enjoyment. Amanda’s enthusiasm for vegetables even inspired us to revitalize a long-neglected patch, which we've expanded to include fruit trees! Her expert advice, encouragement, and unwavering support have been invaluable. Amanda has transformed not only our garden, but also our relationship with it. “
— Rosie
“From start to finish, Amanda’s approach has been a perfect balance of listening to what we wanted in the garden whilst guiding us with her expertise. I thought I knew a reasonable amount about plants but I soon realised Amanda's knowledge and experience with seasonality, colour, impact on nature and overall design was on another level!”
— Rachel
“Right from the start you could sense Amanda’s love of plants and gardening. We didn’t have a lot to play with, but with Amanda’s help we created two raised beds. The resulting mix of plant textures and colours brought us so much joy! I now have a particular love for grasses. We would not hesitate to use Amanda and Fennel Garden Design when we move house, as she really gets you inspired to bring joy into your garden.”
— Tracey
“Amanda was particularly helpful in choosing plants that would suit the space and our colour palette preference whilst making sure we had interest throughout the year. We now have lots of height and varied colour which attracts plenty of wildlife. The care booklet is extremely useful and the garden is easy to maintain. Our garden is beautiful, and we all love it, including the bees!”
—Vanessa
“We have never been good at gardening so when we wanted to create a 'lovely' garden in our new home, we got in touch with Amanda. She listened carefully to what we wanted to achieve and worked with us to create a design and planting to suit us. Amanda sourced plants, advised us on bulbs and created a maintenance calendar so we can look after our new and beautiful garden with confidence. “
— Clemency
