Meet Our Founder
My Story: A Journey Home to Welsh Landscapes
My path to landscape design began in childhood, though I didn’t realize it at the time. Growing up in North Wales, I was surrounded by landscapes that would shape my entire career—the beauty of the Llŷn Peninsula, the drama of Snowdonia, and places like Portmeirion that first showed me how human creativity could enhance rather than compete with natural beauty.
The Professional Calling
My career took me away from Wales initially. Educated and trained as a landscape architect, I worked with design-focused small practices before moving into large-scale projects with large corporates, developing expertise in everything from public infrastructure to major residential developments and importantly, environmental planning. I learned the technical skills and regulatory knowledge that would prove essential later.
When I set up Robinson Chartered Landscape Architects in the Peak District, I initially focused on broad landscape architecture services. But gradually, the work that found me—and that I found most meaningful—sat at the intersection of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Protected landscapes, period properties, sensitive sites where design skill had to be matched with deep understanding of place and history.
The Return Home
Family brought me back to North Wales, but the decision also reflected something deeper—the pull of the sea I’d felt since leaving for university, and the mystical quality of Snowdonia’s remote tranquillity. Returning felt like coming home professionally as well as personally.
Now, with 25 years of experience and Chartered status, I’ve created Eryri Garden Design to focus on what I’m most passionate about: helping people create gardens that truly belong in these extraordinary Welsh landscapes. Every project reflects not just professional expertise, but personal commitment to the places that shaped my understanding of what gardens can become.
Our Approach to Welsh Garden Design
Eryri Garden Design specializes in creating gardens that truly belong in North Wales’ protected landscapes. We combine professional expertise with genuine understanding of what makes Welsh gardens work—from the maritime climate and native plants to the planning requirements and cultural heritage that shape these special places.
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Professional Expertise, Personal Connection
As a Chartered Landscape Architect with 25 years of experience, I bring systematic professional knowledge to every project. But more importantly, I bring personal connection to these landscapes—having grown up here, worked away, and chosen to return because nowhere else feels quite like home.
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Understanding Welsh Conditions
Designing successful gardens in Wales requires understanding of maritime climate influences, exposure considerations, and the native plant communities that thrive here. We select plants that establish successfully and provide long-term satisfaction while supporting local wildlife and landscape character.
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Planning Regulatory Knowledge
Garden enhancement in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and around heritage properties requires careful consideration of planning policies and heritage requirements. Professional expertise ensures appropriate approaches while avoiding costly mistakes.
Our Design Philosophy
The gardens we create are born from the land itself. We begin by listening—to the sweep of surrounding hills, the exposure to coastal winds, the architectural vernacular, and the unique character that makes each North Wales site distinct. Our design philosophy balances wild naturalism with considered structure, creating outdoor spaces that echo the drama and resilience of the Welsh landscape. The result: gardens that feel inevitable, as though they’ve always belonged.
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Listening & Context
The best gardens emerge from listening—to the land, to architectural context, to your vision, and to the landscape relationships that make each site unique. We create outdoor spaces that feel both timeless and contemporary while meeting modern lifestyle needs.
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Naturalistic Planting
We embrace naturalistic planting that creates a signature aesthetic echoing the native Welsh landscape. Our selections prioritize perennials and grasses chosen for structural form and resilience over fleeting flower colour—robust species well-adapted to local climate and soil conditions.
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Textural Drama
Our designs use large, loose drifts that emphasize long-lasting texture and winter silhouette. We deliberately borrow visual cues from the surrounding environment—the horizontal sweep of a nearby field, the vertical rhythm of the local landscape—to create plantings with the character of natural communities.
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Architectural Resilience
Bold mass plantings retain strong structure year-round, anchored by robust hardscape—local slate or dry stone creating essential microclimates and providing architectural counterpoint to the free-flowing, wind-swept softscape. Especially vital for coastal winter resilience.
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Borrowed Views & Place
We strategically frame and “borrow” views of the Irish Sea, mountains, and historic landmarks, integrating the cultivated garden into the sublime, exposed beauty of the Welsh landscape. The result: powerful four-season drama and deep connection to place.
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Outdoor Living Rooms
We design distinct outdoor rooms forging strong relationships between your living space and garden space. Outdoor rooms serve as social hubs for entertaining and dining, or as a retreat ‘oasis’ carefully positioned to frame views over the Welsh landscape.
FAQ
Do I need planning permission for garden changes?
Most garden improvements don’t require planning permission, but properties in National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or with heritage designations may have additional considerations. Our consultation includes guidance on any regulatory requirements affecting your specific property.
How do you select plants for Welsh conditions?
We choose plants based on their suitability for Welsh maritime climate, considering factors like wind tolerance, soil preferences, and seasonal interest. Our selections balance native planting signatures with heritage-appropriate introductions and contemporary choices that enhance garden interest while supporting local ecology.
What's your design process?
We start with comprehensive site analysis and client consultation, develop concepts collaboratively, then create detailed plans and specifications. The process varies by service level but always emphasizes understanding your vision while ensuring designs work practically in Welsh conditions.
What are your fees?
Garden Vision Sessions are £850. Master Garden Design ranges from £4,500-£12,000 depending on scope and complexity. Estate Garden Strategy ranges from £15,000-£45,000 for comprehensive planning and detailed design of priority areas.
Do you work outside North Wales?
We focus on North Wales’ protected landscapes where our specialized knowledge provides greatest value. This includes Eryri National Park, Llŷn Peninsula AONB, and surrounding areas with similar landscape character and regulatory considerations. However we are always open to exceptions for especially exceptional sites.