Jane Stewart Garden Design

Garden Design and Consultancy
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Garden design Dorset

Jane Stewart BSc. PGDip. MSc. ACGD

Qualifications


Jane Stewart qualified with Distinction in Garden Design at Kingston Maurwood College of Horticulture.

 

 

  qualified Garden Designer in Dorset

Prior to pursuing a garden design career, Jane studied Botany at Edinburgh University followed by a post graduate diploma in Horticulture and then by a masters degree in Environmental Science.




Experience

 

She started her working life as an Environmental Consultant. This was ended by a move to France, where she worked as a garden designer, in a specialist plant nursery and as a gardening consultant, while  improving her language skills. On moving back to the UK, Jane gained the position of Head Gardener at Honeybrook, an 85 acre garden near Wimborne. She designed, developed, improved and managed the formal gardens, woodlands, hedgerows, river banks, islands and water meadows at Honeybrook for 3 years. The highlight of that time was when the garden was accepted by the 'yellow book' open gardens scheme.

www.ngs.org.co.uk

 

One of Jane's favorite projects at Honeybrook, was designing and planting a 'Butterfly Garden'. This contained all of the food plants of our native butterfly and moth larvae as well as a seasonal range of nectar rich flowers to feed the adults.

 

Jane also offered tours of the garden, and gave a series of wildflower and nature walks and talks for children and adults.

 


 


In Jane's spare time, she paints, and  sold paintings in the Honeybrook gift shop. Now as a busy garden designer, most of her artistic outlet is through her designs. Many clients like to commission their Garden Design Plan in colour. This makes a very original and personal piece of art work to link the house and garden!


 

 

Garden Design
 
Jane Stewart's garden designs combine  artistic flair with analytical and problem solving skills, passion, imagination and a love of plants. She has a particular interest in fragrance, edible plants and butterflies.
 

The garden has so many dimensions to consider. It belongs not just to the house and to our needs but also to the environment and to the wildlife that inhabit




Environment and Wildlife

 

With ever expanding built up areas and the shrinking of the countryside, the garden is becoming increasingly important to wildlife. It does not adversely affect the beauty of a space to make provision for wildlife and adds immensely to the atmosphere of the garden. Even an urban courtyard will be transformed by the charm of a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower. To encourage birds, berried shrubs are chosen, and herbaceous plants with overwintering seed heads are favored. Nest boxes, bird baths and feeders can be used to create focal points





 

The environment as a bigger picture should always be considered when building or constructing anything. With my masters degree in Environmental Science, and experience performing environmental audits on large companies, it comes naturally to consider the environment in every aspect of my designs. I design sustainable gardens.

 

Fragrance

 

My main specialism as a plants woman is fragrance. For fifteen years I have researched all the very best plants for the scent of their  flowers or foliage.


   

   

    

 

Kitchen Gardens

 

One of my favorite projects is creating kitchen gardens. I design these for maximum output and minimum effort! I can advise on all aspects of growing fruits and vegetables. In my own veggie patch I grow edible flowers amongst the vegetables and fruit bushes. These are not only delicious and beautiful additions to the plate, but also attract beneficial insects such as hoverflys.

 

   

 

Wherever possible, I try to include fruit producing plants and herbs around the ornamental garden. This is especially suited to the cottage garden, where traditionally every inch of space was used to practical but charming purpose.