Garden Design by Jane Stewart

Garden Design and Consultancy
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Garden design Dorset

Jane Stewart BSc. PGDip. MSc. ACGD

Qualifications

 

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

 

 

 

Prior to persuing my garden design career, I studied Botany at Edinburgh Universtity followed by a post graduate diploma in Horticulture and then by a masters degree in Environmental Science.

 

Experience

 

I started my working life as an Environmental Consultant. This was ended by a move to France, where I worked as a garden designer, in a plant nursery and as a gardening consultant, while I improved my language skills. On moving back to the UK, I gained the position of Head Gardener at Honeybrook near Wimborne. I 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 acepted by the 'yellow book' open gardens scheme.

www.ngs.org.co.uk

 

One of my favourite projects at Honeybrook, was designing and planting a 'Butterfly Garden'. This contained all of the food plants of our native butterflies and moths as well as a seasonal range of nectar rich flowers to feed the adults.

 

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

 

 

In my spare time, I paint, and  I sold my paintings in the Honeybrook gift shop. Now as a busy garden designer, most of my artistic outlet is through my designs. Many clients like to commision their Garden Design Plan in Water colour or pastels. This makes a very original and personal piece of art to link the house and garden!

 

 

 

Garden Design
 
My garden designs combine my artistic flair with analytical and problem solving skills, passion, imagination and a love of plants. I have a particular interest in fragrance, edible plants and butterflies.
 

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 adversly affect the beauty of a space to make provision for wildlife and adds immensly 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 seedheads are favoured. 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 folliage.

 

   

   

    

 

Kitchen Gardens

 

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

 

   

 

Where ever posible, if my client's taste dictates, I try to include fruit producing plants and herbs around the ornamental garden too. This is especially suited to the cottage garden, where traditionally every inch of space was used to practical but charming purpose.