Three years ago, inspired by the events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, I designed the #StayHome Garden. Due to the unusual conditions of self-isolation, I tried to envision how the concept of a grow-your-own kit might be scaled up to the size and complexity of a garden, with the added element of being customisable via e-design.

This concept relies on two design elements...

• an adaptable layout and

• a simple palette of plants and materials.

My biomimetic design style already lends itself to this purpose.

The Simplicity Garden, a reimagining of my original #StayHome Garden design, is not a template, but is a demonstration of how I would apply these elements to a bespoke project.

Each of us has a unique connection with nature that is influenced by what inspires us. My bespoke e-design will bring those sources of inspiration to life as a cohesive garden concept that you can use to transform your space into your favourite place to be.

I have based this sample design on a fusion of Japanese and Bauhaus design tenets, to bring my own vision of serenity to life. These contrasting styles both grew from philosophies inspired by nature. From the Japanese style, I have taken inspiration for this simple, harmonious nature-inspired colour palette of timber, stone-grey and green. The layout of the garden is inspired by a Bauhaus-style geometry that is bold, but can be adapted to fit an irregular space and compensate for inexact measurements. This design can also be tailored to suit different self-build skills and resources. For instance, I have shown the space encircled by vertical railway sleepers as a simple low-growing wildflower lawn, but it could also be transformed into a more complex biodiverse pond and wetland habitat.

I have used a simple palette of materials to create the geometry of the design, and a simple palette of plants to inhabit it with life. Timber structures rise from a stone-grey landscape, surrounded by dense beds of mostly evergreen, undemanding native and pollinator-friendly greenery.

The design is punctuated by biomorphic features, such as the pebble-inspired creations of Darren Rumley (oneartisan.co.uk) and a bespoke sculpture, inspired by the unfurling fronds of a fern, which I designed in consultation with sculptor Simon Probyn (simonprobyn.co.uk), to be made from steel wrapped around bundles of bamboo poles to form a microhabitat for wildlife.

Read more about e-Design here.

A wildlife pond forms the heart of this garden design. Sleeper steps and a wildlife-friendly dry stone retaining wall evoke a traditional cottage / farmhouse feeling and allow for adaptable terracing.

The bold geometry of this garden design, and its warm palette of nature-inspired materials with contrasting textures, are inspired by the architecture of the new house.

Sweeping curves create a journey through beds of native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen planting, punctuated by uplit multi-stemmed trees.

This contemporary townhouse-style garden takes inspiration from the fractal seedheads of dandelions.

Rooted with precise symmetry around a solid rectangle of lawn, raised beds of native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting, with blue-purple and orange-red seasonal highlights, create a terraced journey through this elegant geometry, which softens and unravels at both ends into climber-covered timber arches that evoke a sense of depth and mystery as they appear to float away, like dandelion seeds, from the two pergolas that shade adaptable, multi-functional spaces for barbecuing, relaxing and dining.

As one of its main features will be the existing Acer tree, this design takes inspiration from the style of a Japanese rock garden.

A pathway of pebbles and round slabs evokes a river, cascading over a stylized natural landscape of ripples, punctuated by biomorphic elements, and softened by native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting.

Cool blue-purple seasonal highlights form a counterpoint to the warm nature-inspired materials: reclaimed hardwood, Scottish cobbles, corten steel and reddish-brown concrete, which echo the red-brown autumn colours of the Acer.

Evoking movement, the precise diagonal geometry of this design was inspired by the fractal pattern of veins on a leaf.

Anthracite raised beds, climber-covered arches and a bespoke two-tier pergola frame a journey through a three-dimensional living sculpture.

The undemanding native and pollinator-friendly planting is mostly evergreen, with seasonal highlights of white and purple. Purple oversized "flower-pot" style planters, containing white-blossom trees, play with colour and scale to create a unique statement.

This design uses a Japandi-inspired palette of timber and stone-grey materials to form serene biomorphic shapes, from which colourful cottage-style native and pollinator-friendly planting blooms, creating a unique aesthetic of contrast in balance.

Trees and climber-covered arches frame glimpses of the beautiful view beyond, imbuing the garden with a sense of depth and mystery, and evoking a desire to follow the movement of the flowing geometry.

Inspired by nature, and the simplicity of wabi-sabi and Japandi aesthetics, this design is punctuated by biomorphic, anthracite features that complement the buff and black colours of the existing patio and garden room.

Pivoting around a water feature within a pond, the sunken pathway and bench are embraced by dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting, based on a calming palette of green and blue-purple, with seasonal hints of yellow and orange.

Evoking the idea of transformation, the butterfly motif of the decorative screens and fence lights is also suggested by cocoon-shaped planters.

Echoing the hills and meadows of the surrounding countryside, the elegantly cascading contours of this garden are softened by native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting with blue-purple, white and orange-red seasonal highlights.

Inspired by nature and cottage style, oversized terracotta flowerpots, stone-grey materials and timber complement the existing red brickwork.

The climber-covered pergola, arches and flower-pattern decorative screens create fragrant multifunctional spaces, connected by a journey of oversized round stepping stones.

Contrasting pale green and anthracite elements lend a fresh elegance to this contemporary reimagining of cottage style. Inspired by the way leaves and flowers are arranged on the stems of plants, the design uses biomorphic shapes to optimise the unusual shape of the garden. This whimsical geometry creates a meandering journey between beds of native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen planting with contrasting foliage and seasonal highlights based on a palette of primary colours. Round arches covered in climbing plants create a sense of depth and mystery.

Celebrating symmetry in nature, the mirrored geometry that creates a sense of unity throughout this design is inspired by the patterns on the wings of insects.

These wings, with their wildflower-meadow eyespots, are wrapped in drifts of native and pollinator-friendly mass plantings, mostly evergreen, with contrasting foliage and blue-purple seasonal highlights.

A fusion of contemporary and cottage styles, this garden is punctuated by bold new anthracite elements which complement the existing buff and stone-grey colour palette.

A bold stripe of clay paving bricks connects all the elements of this garden, from the pond adjacent to the sandstone patio, through the central tree bench, to the second seating area, which is shaded by climbing plants and framed by raised vegetable beds, and the greenhouse beyond.

In contrast, the gravel pathways beneath climber-covered arches create a meandering journey between beds of native and pollinator-friendly greenery.

The design is anchored by gabion benches that transform upcycled materials into a habitat for wildlife, and punctuated by existing specimen trees / shrubs in corten steel planters.

This DIY-friendly design, a contemporary reimagining of a traditional kitchen garden / orchard, is based on a rustic aesthetic, creating opportunities to upcycle existing materials and plants. Inspired by railway tracks, the playful but strong geometry balances permanent structure and adaptability, creating multifunctional spaces for growing food - via fruit trees, in ground-level and raised vegetable beds, trained over arches and within the greenhouse.

The food-growing, dining and play spaces are wrapped in dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting, with colourful seasonal highlights. The design is punctuated by wildlife-friendly features such as the pond, wildflower lawn and gabion benches.

This contemporary geometry creates one continuous surface of interlocking lawn and resin-bound-stone triangles, while preserving the established planting behind a Corten steel retaining barrier augmented with bespoke seating. The precise diagonal lines evoke a sense of dynamic movement, drawing the eye across the space and playing with perspective which, combined with the uncluttered simplicity of the material palette (red and grey), makes the space feel wider and more open.

Under a soft screen of Viburnum tinus standards, dark grey fences recede behind the contrasting foliage of native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen planting (with pink-red and red-purple highlights) creating a sense of depth and mystery, and giving the illusion that the garden extends beyond its boundaries.

This design is a contemporary reimagining of a Mediterranean-style terraced garden. Supporting the labyrinthine geometry, gabion baskets filled with stone provide a habitat for wildlife, while also retaining dense beds of greenery. I have chosen native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen and architectural species, based on a colour palette of green and silver, with seasonal highlights of pink, purple and a hint of red, to evoke a Mediterranean feeling while also supporting biodiversity. The design is punctuated by biomorphic elements in warm-coloured materials, such as the Mantodea corten steel screens and the concrete sphere lights and pebble seats. Climber-covered pergolas and round arches further enhance the three-dimensionality of the space and imbue the journey with a sense of depth and mystery.

The circular geometry of this contemporary cottage-style garden evokes the feeling of a stylised natural landscape and creates a journey through an orchard of Prunus avium trees and herb/vegetable growing towers.

These bold shapes are softened by dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly mostly evergreen planting with contrasting foliage, punctuated by seasonal highlights based on a colour palette of blue-purple, pink and a hint of red, and architectural spires of decorative seedheads.

I designed this planting plan using native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen species with contrasting foliage and seasonal highlights based on a colour palette of blue-purple and pink, for Erinstone's well-being garden at Pembroke Power Station.

This garden takes inspiration from the design styles of two ancient cultures. Circular dry-stone retaining walls echo the round shapes of Celtic symbols, and the patterns raked into the gravel of Zen gardens, where each element is made special at the centre of concentric ripples. Using a simple nature-inspired colour palette of stone-grey, Corten steel and timber, this interconnected geometry maps out a journey through a stylized landscape of large shrubs and trees, with its scale further enhanced by oversized elements such as the round tiles and pebble seats.

Native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen planting, with seasonal highlights of blue-purple flowers, and red leaves and stems, evokes the feeling of a Japanese-style garden while also supporting biodiversity.

This design is a contemporary reimagining of a traditional kitchen garden. A simple nature-inspired palette of materials, punctuated by classic-black features, provides the sepia paper on which a fruit-salad of living colour paints along with the seasons.

The courtyard space, with its raised bed for the cultivation of herbs and vegetables, is wrapped in layers of native and pollinator-friendly planting. Evergreen species, with contrasting soft or architectural foliage, imbue the garden with life and scent throughout the year. In the cut-flower bed, vibrant summer colour gives way to form as the greenery melts away to reveal, surrounded by seedhead spires, the Fern Sculpture and the winter silhouette of the Prunus domestica tree.

A nature-inspired colour palette of stone-grey, timber and Corten forms the flowing geometry of this contemporary reimagining of a Japanese garden. Moongates and living bamboo screens imbue the space with a sense of depth and mystery.

Native and pollinator-friendly, architectural, mostly evergreen planting with contrasting foliage, based on a colour palette of greens, reds and a hint of purple, evokes the feeling of a Japanese-style garden while also supporting biodiversity.

A glass atrium forms the membrane around this oxygen pod, which is a futuristic, industrial-style reimagining of the chess-inspired garden I designed in 2011.

Two armies, represented in botanical form by almost-black or variegated varieties of air-purifying indoor plants, watch from the battlements of 3D-chessboard-inspired planters. The steampunk aesthetic of the rust-converted treadplate throne counterpoints the utopian minimalism of the mirror throne.

For me, the story of the Neomachi Garden, a concept garden designed to exist within a conceptual city, begins when I was a teenager reading The Best of Omni Science Fiction no. 6, an anthology of short stories published in 1983. Those futuristic and alien worlds, such as William Gibson's "the Sprawl", would go on to inform my ideas and design style for the rest of my life, making it no surprise that the cyberpunk apparel of visionary Rosalie Mellström, and the immersive retrofuturistic world she has created around it, inspired me to imagine the garden that might exist within the city of Neomachi.

Visit NEOMACHI.

My interpretation of Rosalie's vision, which was inspired by the neon lights of Japan, is based on an ultra-minimal colour palette of neon green and neon pink, against a backdrop of grey urban materials: stone, steel and concrete. The entire garden is mirrored along the diagonal to create a mindbending kaleidoscopic effect, evoking the iconic reflections of neon city imagery, the otherworldly multiverses of science fiction, and the feeling of stepping through the looking-glass into Rosalie's virtual world. This kaleidoscopic geometry is outlined by neon LED strip lights, turning the garden into a cybernetic-organism with green light flowing through its botanical circuitry like the life-force of nature flows through the veins of a leaf.

Throughout the long winter nights, the seedhead spires of Dispacus fullonum and Phlomis tuberosa are bathed in a neon-green glow, as they rise from between domes of evergreen foliage. Then, as the expanding daylight hours of summer melt away the darkness of winter, the garden undergoes its seasonal metamorphosis and those dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly planting burst into neon-pink bloom, like the strange meadows of another world glowing under an alien sun.

The Neurodivergent Spider Garden is a futuristic spider-themed reimagining of a concept garden that I designed in 2018, while living in a house-share which was occupied by an ever-changing group of six professional adults.

A live-out landlord wants a garden that is a) low maintenance and b) has a unique and relevant style that will make the house attractive to good tenants.

This garden will be shared between three groups: introverts, extroverts and (as is my ongoing mission) the local wildlife.

With new tenants frequently moving into a house-share, it is neither useful nor fair to design for specific interests or hobbies. Tenants do however fall into two distinct general groups that by definition, struggle to share spaces: introvert and extrovert. These opposite personality types form the inspiration for my design.

A wildlife-friendly garden has an exclusion area for shy species and an open area for more flamboyant species. I’ve used this model for my introvert and extrovert spaces.

For social activities, there is a seating area around a built-in table, with permanent gabion bench seating and space for extra free-standing chairs to be added. There will also be a place for nature at the table, or rather under it, as I've left a gap in the resin bound stone in order to use this space for planting. The table top must be made from spiderweb-inspired ORNILUX mikado Bird Protection Laminated Safety Glass.

Furthest from the house, is the seclusion / introvert space with separate gabion benches. (Gabions can be filled with stone, upcycled broken pavers, old bricks, logs and terracotta pots etc, and they make a wonderful habitat for wildlife.) Along the back wall is a densely planted seclusion habitat for shy species that will coexist harmoniously with quiet human activities like reading or appreciating nature.

Both humans and shy animals will be more comfortable traversing the garden without going through the open area, so I've designed a bespoke tunnel structure, running from the door of the house to the seclusion / introvert area, supporting decorative steel screens covered in climbing plants and a raised walkway, made from spiderweb-inspired ORNILUX mikado Bird Protection Laminated Safety Glass, which will be underplanted to maximise the area of greenery. You will feel like you're walking through a forest, but without disturbing nature or getting muddy shoes. This tunnel also makes one's journey through the garden more maze-like and interesting, thus creating the illusion of a larger space.

In this design, a unique aesthetic is created via the fusion of modern, tropical and Mediterranean styles.

Achromatic squares elegantly offset the greenery: native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen plant species with contrasting foliage, based on a colour palette of greens, reds and a hint of purple, evoke an exotic feeling while also supporting biodiversity.

This design learns from nature's use of fractals and the pleasingly dynamic juxtaposition of symmetry and asymmetry to create a unique composition that brings balance to the amorphous geometry of the existing embankments.

Viburnum tinus Eve Price half-standards and semi-dwarf Prunus avium Sunburst trees rise from drifts of undemanding native and pollinator-friendly greenery, punctuated by the architectural evergreen domes of Hebe rakaiensis and tall, seasonal clumps of perennials with decorative seedheads.

Visually anchored by trees, and inspired by dynamic botanical forms such as unfurling fronds and spiralling tendrils, the Bee Hotel Sculptures evoke a sense of depth, movement and growth.

This design is inspired by the Sun.

The circular golden/brown stone and timber elements of the geometry evoke henges and sundials, invented to measure time using the Sun's journey through the sky.

The transformation of sunlight into greenery via photosynthesis is celebrated by the leaf-inspired pattern of the decorative screens, and the native and pollinator-friendly planting enveloping the two seating areas, which have also been positioned in response to the movement of the Sun, and the pond, with its wetland and waterfall, which further encourages biodiversity.

The geometry of this contemporary bee-inspired design, which is based on the hexagons of a honeycomb, frames a journey through mass-planted beds of native and pollinator-friendly greenery, from the relative formality of the wildflower lawns near the house to the wilder meadows beyond the rose-covered entertaining area. Nature-inspired materials, such as the Corten steel of the Bee Hotel Moongates and Sculptures, and the bee-wing-motif decorative screens, further evoke the warmth of summer.

To create a unique aesthetic, the layout of this garden evokes the weird geometry of crop circles, and is brought to life with colours and textures inspired by the vibrant and chaotic artworks of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Jean-Michel Basquiat. This DIY-focused design features a number of wildlife habitats including gabion baskets filled with upcycled materials, a pond with a wetland, wildflower meadows, and dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly greenery. Layers of climbing plants and living willow provide shade and privacy, and frame a journey through spaces that are waiting to be inhabited by unusual sculptures and artefacts.

This design uses nature-inspired materials and a warm colour palette of earth browns and stone greys to complement dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly greenery. Punctuated by crescents of fruit trees and solar torches, the gentle sweeping curves of this simple and elegant geometry draw the eye from the fragrant shade beneath the pergola, out across the lawn to the meadows beyond.

Inspired by the meandering course of a river, this design optimises the unusual shape of the garden to create a journey between two climber-covered pergolas, which shade adaptable, multi-functional spaces for barbecuing, relaxing and dining.

A living pathway flows through layers of dense native and pollinator-friendly greenery, past uplit trees and through round arches covered in climbing plants, which create a sense of depth and mystery.

This design is a contemporary interpretation of country style, which makes a bold statement using simple and elegant geometry, anchored by a feature pond. Dense beds of native and pollinator-friendly greenery frame a space which is open and bright.

Softened and brought to life by planted polygons, this modern-style design transforms the unusual angles of the existing site into a bold geometry of parallelograms, creating adaptable spaces for entertaining and play.

This project comprises two garden spaces. Both designs are contemporary interpretations of traditional styles.

Inspired by the style of Zen / Japanese rock gardens, the design for the carport space uses organic shapes and a minimal colour palette of green, grey and Corten to evoke the simple elegance of nature. From the edge of a carpet of evergreen, architectural planting, decorative screens guide scented climbers up into the existing rafters, creating a fragrant space inside a living, biodiverse sculpture.

The design for the rear garden balances symmetry and asymmetry in three dimensions, taking inspiration from the vibrant colours and bold geometry of Moroccan-style courtyards, and the fractal patterns found in living structures, to transform the space into a living green, shaded oasis. I have selected native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen plant species with contrasting foliage, based on a bright colour palette, to evoke an exotic feeling while also supporting biodiversity.

This garden is an elegant contemporary interpretation of cottage-style, designed around a formal wildlife pond, creating a unique aesthetic of contrast in balance.

The most important element of the design, the native and pollinator-friendly greenery, is framed and supported by a formal geometry of nature-inspired materials, such as stone, Corten steel, timber and red brick.

Beyond the lawn and pond, a climber-covered pergola creates a fragrant space within a living sculpture. Living pathways lead through the dining area, around an underplanted bar, to an underplanted built-in bench within this multi-functional kitchen/lounge.

This contemporary-style design is loosely inspired by the bold geometry of Bauhaus art, but instead of primary colours, I have used nature-inspired materials with contrasting textures: grey resin bound stone and cedar decking, framed by Corten steel raised bed peninsulas of dense native and pollinator-friendly greenery. Inlaid Corten steel edging defines the transition between these interlocking shapes, evoking a sense of movement through the garden, while creating one continuous adaptable surface for free-standing furniture. Layers of climber-covered screens and a contemporary-style arch balance the space in three dimensions, and create a sense of depth and mystery, giving the illusion that the garden extends beyond its boundaries.

For this coastal garden, I have used a strong geometry, softened by dense beds of informal, native and pollinator-friendly planting, to create spaces for entertaining and play, punctuated by unique habitats that support biodiversity, such as a wildlife pond, and gabion benches filled with upcycled building materials.

This rustic, cottage-style design uses a simple geometry, punctuated by unique habitats such as a wildlife pond and a gabion bench filled with upcycled building materials, to create a journey through dense native and/or pollinator-friendly planting, transforming this unused space into a magical pocket garden that supports biodiversity.

This design is loosely inspired by a fusion of styles; the grounding symmetry of a formal layout is brought to life using nature-inspired materials and a minimal colour palette to evoke the peaceful simplicity of a Japanese rock garden, forming a unique contemporary aesthetic.

These geometric shapes are wrapped in dense greenery, elegantly embellished with white and purple flowers for seasonal interest. I have chosen native and pollinator-friendly plant species to encourage biodiversity.

A spherical Luna water feature, within an amphitheatre of wide steps between raised beds, forms the focal point of this modern resort-style design, around which bright white-rendered walls, punctuated by fruit trees and Luna concrete sphere lights, emboss a concentric geometry of sand-coloured resin bound stone, wildflower lawns and decking onto beds of dense greenery.

Beyond the decking, a row of Viburnum tinus Eve Price and Prunus avium Sunburst standards, in contemporary oversized planters, forms the dramatic backdrop to a semi-circular raised lounge.

Stepping stones traverse the southern lawn, to a secluded pergola covered in scented climbers and wrapped in oversized planting: Fatsia japonica, a broad-leaved evergreen.

This design is inspired by raindrops falling on the surface of a lake. Vertical railway sleeper edging and brickwork form retaining walls, allowing the geometry of the design to be adapted to the existing slope. Interlocking circular shapes balance the volumes of the large central lawn, the smaller lawn (which could become a separate play-lawn for children in the future) and pockets of undemanding greenery, which are embellished with seasonal flowers in shades of purple, pink, white and blue.

This contemporary design uses a strong geometry to compliment the existing patios and path, creating one bold cohesive statement. The circular shape and nature-inspired materials evoke a woodland clearing.

Multi-stemmed trees and round arches covered in climbing plants soften the south and east boundaries and balance the space in three dimensions. I have chosen wildlife-friendly mostly evergreen species to augment the existing planting, adding year-round greenery and structure.

The elements of this contemporary Mediterranean-inspired design, which retains the existing paths and patio, have been chosen to enable a DIY approach to the creation of the garden.

A curve of decorative pollinator-inspired screens and a round arch covered in climbing plants imbue the space with a sense of depth, mystery and movement. Solar lights punctuate a journey, through dense beds of undemanding wildlife-friendly greenery, to a secluded tree bench. The path then emerges beneath a crescent of evergreen Arbutus unedo trees.

This contemporary design is loosely inspired by the style of a Japanese rock garden. To support biodiversity, the precise geometry of the lawn and patio spaces is wrapped in dense, native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen planting. A climber-covered pergola and decorative screens, inspired by insect wings, provide privacy and imbue the garden with a sense of depth and mystery, and create a fragrant seating space inside a living sculpture.

Created for relaxing, dining and growing food, this contemporary-style design uses contrasting textures to emboss a winding path onto interlocking grey shapes, which are neatly outlined in black and softened by dense greenery. This geometry makes the most of the unusual space, while retaining the existing planting, which I have augmented with additional native and pollinator-friendly species. Decorative steel screens and pergolas covered in climbing plants expand these shapes to form a three-dimensional space.

This garden design is a contemporary-style abstraction of a river flowing through a vineyard, representing the harmonious juxtaposition between the spontaneity of nature and the precision of winegrowing.

A dramatic waterfall guides visitors down to the tree-lined cascading water feature which flows obliquely, like the course of a natural river, through rows of vine-covered pergolas whose linear geometry echoes the feeling and visual texture of the surrounding plantations.

While human visitors to the garden enjoy a glass of sparkling wine, wildlife is provided with a banquet of pollinator-friendly planting, including species native to the High Weald area.

The layered geometry of this contemporary cottage-style garden is formed from natural and reclaimed materials. The meandering path creates a journey from the shade and privacy beneath the climber-covered pergola, through densely planted beds that support biodiversity, to the wildlife-friendly seating area around the raised vegetable bed.

The layered geometry of shared spaces and household seating areas in this modern design is imbued with warmth by nature-inspired materials. An inviting space is created by the simple layout and neutral colour palette (of black, grey, timber and greenery), encouraging each household to inhabit their individual seating area with their own unique style, using free-standing furniture and personal touches, (such as bird feeders suspended from the pergolas). Elements such as the gabion walls and pollinator-friendly planting encourage biodiversity, creating a garden that households not only share with each other, but also with nature.

The concentric circular shapes and the natural colours and textures used in this garden are inspired by ocean tide/rock pools. This design features a beach of resin bound stone, punctuated by a pool of wildflower lawn and a wooden barrel hot tub built into a raised bed to evoke the feeling of being in nature. The white tensile fabric canopy, reminiscent of sailing ships, creates shaded space for free-standing furniture next to the gabion stone bench.

As one of the main features of the garden will be a pirate galleon wooden playhouse, I have chosen oceanic islands formed by volcanoes as inspiration for this design. The shapes, materials and colour palette (red, black and green) are inspired by flowing lava, volcanic rock formations and exotic planting. A selection of native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen plant species with contrasting foliage evokes an exotic feeling while also supporting biodiversity. Red foliage and flowers leap like flames from the dense greenery.

I designed the FERN SCULPTURE in July 2022, in consultation with sculptor Simon Probyn, for my Tremlyn Garden project. It was inspired by the magical geometry of fractals found in living botanical structures, especially the unfurling fronds of a fern, and functions as both a decorative garden feature / contemporary artwork, celebrating the beauty of nature, and a wildlife microhabitat / insect hotel / bee hotel, which supports biodiversity. It is a modular design, consisting of scalable FROND modules (steel wrapped around bundles of bamboo poles), which can be installed individually or configured into groups of two or three.

Going forward, I envision the FERN SCULPTURE in the following three sizes:

SMALL, consisting of FRONDS that are 400 mm wide, 100 mm deep, and 900, 1000 and 1100 mm high;

MEDIUM, consisting of FRONDS 600 mm wide, 150 mm deep, and 1350, 1500 and 1650 mm high;

and LARGE, consisting of FRONDS 800 mm wide, 200 mm deep, and 1800, 2000 and 2200 mm high.

Read more about the Tremlyn Garden project here.

The geometry of this design is inspired by the fractals found in botanical forms. The focal point of the garden, a bespoke sculpture inspired by the unfurling fronds of a fern, is made from Corten steel wrapped around bundles of bamboo poles to form a habitat for wildlife. Echoing the shape of this sculpture, gravel paths unfold through dense planting. I have selected native and pollinator-friendly, mostly evergreen species with contrasting foliage, based on a bright colour palette of greens, reds and a hint of purple, to evoke an exotic feeling while also supporting biodiversity.

Read more about the Fern Sculpture here.

This design uses a simple nature-inspired colour palette to create a fusion of modern and cottage styles. Timber and stone-grey materials form a strong geometry which is softened by beds overflowing with evergreen architectural greenery. White and purple flowers provide seasonal interest, while planters and bird feeders / birdhouses add a hint of traditional terracotta. Playful circular elements add a touch of whimsy to the garden.

This design is loosely inspired by the style of informal French courtyard gardens combined with inspiration from nature. Like a dry riverbed following the contours of the natural landscape, a sleeper and gravel path flows through this transitional space, optimizing its unusual shape. Decorative screens and round arches covered in climbing plants balance the design in three dimensions, provide privacy and imbue the access points of the space with a sense of depth and mystery. A restful pause is created, within this secluded oasis, by a stone paver circle wrapped in wildlife-friendly planting to encourage biodiversity.

I've selected a palette of drought-resistant planting for this arid, coastal garden. In keeping with the grand scale of the property and existing hedge, and inspired by the gears inside a watch, sweeping curves of vertical railway sleepers outline the wildlife-friendly pond and beds. Echoing the curved seating area, decking forms a faux bridge which anchors the geometry of the design and adds a vertical dimension to your journey through the garden.

This design is loosely inspired by a fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean styles. Pergolas and screens create a Mediterranean-inspired courtyard oasis. Japanese-inspired minimalism is achieved through round shapes, a simple colour palette of grey, black and natural timber, and beds of evergreen architectural planting.

Inspired by the way artist Gustav Klimt captures nature's infinite diversity and infinite combinations, this design is a fusion of precise angles and soft organic curves, forming a unique aesthetic of contrast in balance.

Centred around a real Tree of Life (Amelanchier lamarckii), railway sleeper pathways trace a simple asymmetrical shape, reminiscent of Klimt's embracing figures. In contrast with this flowing timber outline, Corten steel planters and screens (decorated with a spiral design which echoes Klimt's Tree of Life) form rectangular planes and cuboids.

Complementary orange-red and blue-purple flowers adorn the overflowing beds, which wrap around the warm orange geometry like a cool green cloak.

The strong geometry of this design is rooted into the landscape by low walls of Cotswold stone, from which a timber pergola blooms upwards into three dimensions, supporting climbing roses and evergreen Clematis. These natural, honey-coloured elements form a counterpoint to contemporary monochrome features.

Layers of decorative screens and planting add depth to this wide garden and evoke a feeling of seclusion without overwhelming the space.

An architectural, evergreen border provides winter structure, while herbaceous beds add whimsical seasonal colour.

This design evokes the feeling of natural space formed by a secluded woodland clearing. Bold circular shapes anchor the geometry. Interlocking concentric paths, softened by dense informal planting, imbue the garden with a sense of movement and mystery. Inspired by shafts of sunlight shining through trees, these starbursts of sleepers draw the eye outwards and play with perspective to create a feeling of openness, and give the illusion that the garden extends beyond its boundaries.

This design uses timber and stone textures in pale browns and greys to form a bold, modern geometry, softened by beds of mass planting. A wide contemporary-style path draws the eye from the tree-lined lawns / dining area, past the herb / vegetable beds and out towards the surrounding natural landscape.

This modern courtyard oasis uses a fusion of interlocking geometric shapes and warm, natural textures to create a unique aesthetic of contrast in balance.

Raised beds of dense greenery on a tranquil canvas of gravel form an abstract artwork which blooms upwards into three dimensions. Trees, decorative screens and climber-covered pergolas create a fragrant space inside a living sculpture, and balance the proportions of the existing boundaries.

The strong symmetrical geometry of the mirrored wildlife ponds forms a dramatic feature which optimises the unusual shape of the garden.

This design evokes a journey through a nature reserve, loosely inspired by the aesthetic philosophy followed in the creation of Japanese rock gardens, where beautiful landscapes are stylized and miniaturized. It brings together pollinator-friendly planting, and features that are both decorative and functional, to form a variety of habitats which support biodiversity.

This contemporary-style kitchen garden combines an inner layer of herb and vegetable beds, and an outer layer of decorative pollinator-friendly planting which supports biodiversity. A gabion (or dry stone) wall forms the strong geometry of the design, while simultaneously creating a habitat for wildlife. Inspired by living structures, the shape of this garden can accommodate changing use requirements over time.

This garden design is inspired by the graceful movement of celestial bodies in space. Spherical lights illuminate the edge of the parking space in the front garden, as it curves towards the house, and wildlife-friendly climbing plants cover radial pergolas, forming a living star. The geometry of the back garden hints at the fractal nature of the universe; seating encircles the existing tree and the spherical water feature, which in turn punctuate the curved path, like planets in orbit. A gabion retaining wall echoes the shape of the patio edge, like a wave.

This garden design takes inspiration from the shape of a forest clearing, where the feeling of open space is in harmony with the feeling of being surrounded by nature.

The geometry of the pergola evokes the silhouette of branches meeting overhead, while climbing plants give the effect of trees in the process of shedding their autumn leaves to reveal clear sky above.

Undemanding evergreen plants with vibrant flowers and foliage in shades of red, burgundy, purple and magenta, evoke the colours of autumn throughout the year.

This garden is a journey from traditional-style symmetry into a biomorphic geometry inspired by nature. At the front of the house, visitors are greeted by a bold, living facade of formal, pollinator-friendly evergreen hedges and standards. This geometry flows around the sides of the house, where sculpted hedges become rustic stone walls, and evergreen standards become a miniature orchard of dwarf cherry trees. At the back of the house, the pergola, snug and covered kitchen are softened by islands of greenery. Curves of vertical railway sleepers mark the informal transition between these beds and the wildflower meadow, which in turn blends the garden into the natural landscape.

Inspired by the branching fractal patterns found in trees and leaves, the geometry of this design evokes a sense of gentle movement from the patio to the secluded seating area. Layers of vertical planting balance the space in three dimensions and give the illusion that the garden extends beyond its boundaries.

Cool, calming colours and natural textures imbue this space with meditative tranquillity, while a raised border of informal greenery and patches of bright, playful wildflowers bring it to life.

Inspired by the landscape of the Isles of Scilly, this design uses stone retaining walls to evoke a journey down a rugged hillside, and informal planting to create soft safety barriers that weave the garden into the decking. Trees and all-weather canopies provide shade and shelter without overwhelming the spaces. The first (highest) level of decking could be used for a small breakfast table or a comfortable chair. The second level is a covered kitchen and dining area, and the third level is a covered casual entertainment area with built-in seating and space for a fire pit table. The main lawn is separated from the play lawn by a tree bench and a screen, covered in evergreen climbers, which also hides the storage shed.

In the alternative design, rendered raised beds with built-in seating create a soft safety barrier between the garden and existing patio, and an all-weather canopy provides shade and shelter without overwhelming the space. The main lawn is separated from the play lawn by a tree bench and a raised bed, which also hides the storage shed.

This design is a fusion of biodiversity and art. The simple colour palette is inspired by the biomorphic sculptures of Anish Kapoor (red and black) and Barbara Hepworth (white, natural browns and blue), and many of the elements within the garden combine sculptural form with the function of encouraging biodiversity. Oversized representations of elements from nature distort the scale of the space to evoke a miniature world of magical surrealism.

Inspired by geometric abstraction in art (the precise lines of Mondrian, and the three-dimensional optical illusions of Escher), this design uses overlapping squares to create a journey through the garden and adaptable spaces for freestanding furniture.

The uniform scale of the squares, which is based on the dimensions of the new extension, creates a geometry that is asymmetrical, but pleasingly balanced. This strong, simple geometry frames beds of dense planting.

Contrast is what brings this design to life, and gives the geometry depth and interest. Grey and brick-red (to match the house) form the colour palette. Fields of complex visual texture, created by the brickwork and resin bound stone, contrast with the simple rows of large smooth pavers that seem to stitch the other shapes together.

This design is inspired by the geometry of fractals found in nature, specifically the spiral shell of the nautilus. Like walking meditation through a circular labyrinth, the shape of this garden encourages movement through spaces with different energies, from open lawn, through the cosy but sociable seating area, to a secluded pergola. The style of this garden is a fusion of two contrasting aesthetics, both inspired by nature - the minimalist colour palette and bold architectural forms of a Japanese rock garden, and the organic textures and soft, scented planting of a cottage garden.