the garden that
no longer fits
If your garden feels like it's living a separate life from yours, you're not alone. Most of the women I work with fall into one of three categories.
See if you recognise yourself here ↓
Version 1.0
(Circa 1995)
This is the garden you poured your heart and energy into 25 or 30 years ago. The one designed around young children, family gatherings, and a completely different chapter of life.
You've either left it untouched since then, or you've tinkered around the edges, hoping, somehow, that it would all fall into place.
But life moved on. You moved on. And somehow, the garden stayed exactly where it was.
The lawn you once loved maintaining now feels like a burden. The garden reflects a version of you that no longer exists, and every time you step outside, that disconnect whispers a little louder.
The Inherited Garden
This is the garden that came with your home, brimming with potential, but one you've been secretly afraid to touch.
Maybe it's beautiful. Maybe it was even featured in the estate agent photos. But it was never yours.
You've watched it slip a little further each year, becoming overgrown, tired, or just... not quite right. You wince when you compare it to those original photos, knowing you haven't been able to maintain what someone else created.
And deep down, you're afraid that if you change it, you'll ruin it.
The so-called "easy" one - the empty plot.
In theory, it's a dream: a clean slate, endless possibilities. In reality, it's a designer's headache.
Too many choices. Too much pressure.
You feel like a rabbit in the headlights, terrified of getting it wrong of wasting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So instead of taking action, you've frozen. The blank space stays blank, year after year, while you wait for clarity that never quite come
the blank space
Hi, I'm Diane, And I help women create gardens that finally feel like theirs.
With over 18 years' experience as a designer, including a decade working within the NHS Arts and Health sector, I bring a creative yet evidence-informed approach to garden design. I hold a degree in Visual Communication and a Diploma from the Pickard School of Garden Design, and I'm a proud member of the Society of Garden Designers.
But here's what really matters:
I learned early on that truly transformative design isn't transactional - it's collaborative, immersive, and deeply personal. Whether I was working in healthcare settings or outdoor spaces, I witnessed the same truth: thoughtful design can restore balance and connection in our everyday lives.
For the past eight years, I've designed gardens that invite a deeper relationship with nature - places that slow us down, awaken the senses, and offer quiet moments of reflection. My work explores the intersection of wellbeing, creativity, and the natural world, drawing on the same principles I've seen transform spaces and lives in healthcare settings.
Whether your garden is Version 1.0, inherited, or still a blank slate, my role is the same: I'm the bridge between where you are and where you want to be.
How i guide you
I Help You See the
Bigger Picture
We start with your story, not Pinterest boards. Through guided visualisations and seasonal mapping, we uncover what truly nourishes you and how you actually want to live in your garden.
I Design for Real Life
Your garden will be designed for mornings with tea (not endless maintenance), travel without guilt (irrigation that works), and seasons unfolding (not forcing everything at once). Every choice honours person, place, and purpose.
I Give You Permission
You don't need everything at once. Bite-size projects. Spreading costs over years. Prioritising needs over wants. Observing through seasons before finalising. This isn't delay, it's intention.
WHAT BECOMES POSSIBLE
When we work together, you move from:
Disconnect → Deep alignment
Your garden becomes:
A space that holistically meets your needs today and as they evolve
Practical planting and thoughtful design that works with your schedule, not against it
A garden you can actually spend time in (not one you're constantly fixing)
Realistic maintenance, irrigation solutions, and low-burden living woven in from the start
Freedom from that endless cycle: patch, regret, repeat
Most importantly:
You stop avoiding your garden. You step outside and feel lighter. You finally have a space that mirrors the woman you've become - not the woman you used to be.
My Approach
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We begin with your story. Through visualisations and deep listening, I uncover the emotional essence and translate it into something tangible.
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Evidence-based design rooted in my NHS background: plants that lower stress, layouts that calm your nervous system, beauty that genuinely restores.
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Spreading costs, reducing overwhelm through manageable phases, being kinder on your nervous system so you enjoy every step.
Who i work with
I work with a small number of clients each year, women ready to prioritise themselves, who pressed pause on their dream garden for their families, and are now ready to give their gardens (and in turn themselves) the time and love they deserve.
You might be:
Navigating an empty nest and wanting a space that reflects this new chapter
Moving through menopause and needing a garden that honours changing physical needs (shade, rest, gentle movement)
Processing loss and seeking a garden that holds memories with intention
Simply ready to create a sanctuary that finally feels like you
If this resonates, I'd love to hear your story.
THE REALITY OF WORKING TOGETHER
What to Expect:
This is bespoke work. No templates. No repeats. Every garden is completely unique because every woman's story is different.
We phase intentionally. Most clients work with me over 3-5 years, building their gardens in stages. This isn't compromise, it's partnership with time, budget, and your own evolution.
You'll be seen. I position myself as "the bridge" I relate to where you are and where you want to be. You won't feel rushed, judged, or misunderstood.
Your garden will work FOR you. Not the other way around. That's the promise.
Ready to begin?
Design journeys are bespoke, phased to honour your rhythm,
and deeply personal. If you're tired of the disconnect, ready to end the cycle, and prepared to create a garden that genuinely supports who you're becoming, let's talk!
Get in Touch