After graduating in Mathematics from Bristol University and an initial career in computing, I retrained professionally in garden design to realise my lifelong interest and enthusiasm for gardens.

I've been designing gardens for 10 years now and have experience of over 60 diverse projects.

My designs range from flowing country gardens, through more traditional garden rooms, to classic contemporary gardens and tiny urban back yards. My aim is to create beautiful gardens that withstand the test of time and work perfectly with the house and surroundings. I also pay particular attention to providing stunning views from inside the house, as the English weather inevitably means that these are the ones we experience most often.

My main design influences are mid-century design and the arts and crafts movement. I love the simplicity and textures of mid-century design: shaggy tribal rugs combined with the sleek beauty of wood, and the flowing floral patterns and minute attention to detail of the arts and crafts movement. I love contrasting textures and achieve these with both the hard landscaping and the planting design.

My planting style is a combination of naturalistic and traditional. I select a restrained colour pallette with the client and develop this into stunning borders that change subtly throughout the year. I use contrasting flower and leaf shapes and incorporate scented flowers near entrances, terraces and pathways. My current interest is for romantic perennial borders which double as cut flower borders for the house.

I have a prestigious RHS Silver-Gilt medal for an urban courtyard garden at Malvern, and was interviewed on BBC Gardener's World representing a group of designers in the south-west.

"Carolyn was professional and personable throughout with a great capacity for accounting for our needs whilst being knowledgeable, approachable and accessible ... I am really pleased with our new garden and, as transforming it from wall-to-fence turf to a garden-of-interest was relatively stress free, there is even greater pleasure to be had. Thank you Carolyn, I couldn't have asked for a better experience."
Ruth McAllister - Family garden in Long Ashton, Bristol