Garden Design

I design gardens of all shapes and sizes, from small urban courtyards to large country gardens and everything else in between. I don't impose a set style; I create gardens that are sympathetic to the location of the garden and the architecture of the house. 

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Planting Design

Good planting is essential and is what makes a garden. Planting creates atmosphere and transforms a space. I firmly believe in the restorative power of spending time with plants and aim to create biodiverse planting schemes which are of benefit to both humans and wildlife. Planting plans can be produced as part of a garden design project or as a separate commission.

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Garden renovation

Your garden may looked tired or unloved but you may not want or require a full redesign. The garden renovation service includes whatever is required to get your garden looking good again. If appropriate, garden renovation may take the form of an ongoing collaboration, and can be completed in stages, over a number of years.

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Cotswolds Garden Design

Cotswolds Garden Design

A long narrow garden in a lovely village
in the heart of the Cotswolds..

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St Albans Courtyard

St Albans Courtyard 

A young family in the centre of
St Albans needed a multi tasking garden

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St Albans Garden Design

St Albans Garden Design

redesigned to make a contemporary parterre with box edging and pleached trees framing the entrance..

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Coastal Garden Design

Coastal Garden Design

Redesigned to make a contemporary parterre with box edging and pleached trees framing the entrance.

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“
Thank goodness we found Vanessa! Her thoughtful and expert guidance has been invaluable. She has listened to our ideas and has helped in every way possible.
Mr and Mrs Offord, Harpenden
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About Vanessa Blain

About Vanessa

Based in my studio in St Albans, I design gardens in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London. I also sometimes work further afield, and recent projects have included garden designs in the Cotswolds and Suffolk.

I work in close collaboration with clients to create designs which not only aim to meet functional and practical requirements, but which are beautiful and inviting. I want clients to feel uplifted when they spend time in their gardens or when they view them from the house.

Each design is approached with the intent of developing a unique ‘sense of place’; that elusive feeling, hard to articulate or capture on film, which we experience when we spend time in a garden that feels ‘just right’. This is achieved through thoughtful and imaginative design, which is carefully linked to the house and its surrounding and in tune with the client’s tastes; the sensitive use of hard landscaping, and planting which is elegant and innovative.

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"The garden is stunning... I feel really amazed when I look at it."