Where Great Gardens Begin

Bespoke garden design in Tunbridge Wells – because your outdoor space deserves better than ordinary 

A well-designed garden does far more than just look good in photographs. It works with your life – providing space to entertain, room for children to play, a place to grow fresh herbs and vegetables, a quiet corner to sit and relax, or simply a beautiful backdrop that makes your home feel complete.

As experienced garden designers in Tunbridge Wells, we take time to understand what you actually want from your outdoor space before a pencil touches paper. The result is a design that feels considered and personal.

Design projects typically range from £15,000 to over £200,000. We work across Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Crowborough and throughout Kent, East Sussex, Surrey and London.

The design process

1. the brief

Every project starts with a conversation. We visit your garden and talk through how you use it, what you love about it and what you wish it could do differently. We will ask about your preferred styles, your plant likes and dislikes, any planning considerations, and of course your budget.

Nothing is too vague at this stage. Some of our best projects have started with a client who simply knew they wanted something better, but was not sure what. That is exactly where a designer adds value.

2. Garden survey

We begin with a full photographic record of the garden as it stands – how it sits in relation to the house, any outbuildings, and the wider setting. We’ll study any site plans you have and carry out a basic survey to confirm orientation and dimensions, noting any features, beds or plants you’d like to keep. Where your garden is sloped or terraced, we can also arrange a full topographical survey if needed.

3. Concepts

With the brief agreed and survey undertaken, our designers get to work. They research ideas, visit similar spaces, consult with our construction team and develop a detailed concept that responds to your garden’s specific character – its light, its levels, its relationship to the house.

The concept addresses every element of the space: structure, surfaces, planting, water, lighting and buildings. It is collaborative throughout. You’ll see the ideas develop and have the opportunity to shape them before anything is finalised.

4. Visualisation and planning

Before work begins on site, we bring the design to life with our drawings and if you wish, photo-realistic 3D visualisations. You’ll be able to see your finished garden from multiple angles – exploring how it will look in different seasons, at different times of day, with different material and planting combinations.

Once you are happy with the concept and estimate, we produce all the technical drawings, planting plans and construction specifications required to build it. Where planning consent is needed, we can manage that process too.

3d visualisation of an garden design featuring an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area under a pergola

Design credentials

Tim Sykes, our Creative Director, is a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers. As part of his membership, every year he undertakes additional research and study to continuously improve his skills and inject fresh inspiration. He also holds a distinction from Hadlow College. Gardenproud is a British Association Of Landscape Industries (BALI) accredited company. These credentials matter – they represent our commitment to professional standards, ongoing development and best practice across every project we take on.

See the results

Our portfolio covers a wide range of garden styles and scales – from contemporary urban spaces to large rural gardens. Each project is a unique brief, a unique client and a unique solution.

View our portfolio Start a conversation about your garden

Faqs

How much does garden design cost?

Garden design fees start from as low as £1500 + VAT, but depend on the size and complexity of the project. Our design and construction projects typically range from £15,000 to £250,000. We are always happy to discuss budget at the outset – being clear about what is achievable within your budget is part of how we work, not an afterthought.

To give you a ballpark idea, a small courtyard garden is usually between £15,000 – £50,000, a mid-sized town garden between £80,000 and £200,000 and a large country garden from £150,000. But this is by no means set in stone, so let’s have a chat to find out more about your garden.

What does the design process involve?

It begins with a consultation visit to your garden, where we get to know the space, understand how you use it and discuss your brief. From there, our designers develop a concept, which means researching ideas, creating detailed plans and refining the design through a collaborative process with you.

Before construction begins, we produce drawn concepts, then scale plans, plus photo-realistic 3D visualisations if you wish so you can see exactly what the finished garden will look like. We will also handle all technical drawings, planting plans and planning applications where required.

Do you offer phased projects?

Absolutely. Many of our clients choose to complete their garden in phases – perhaps starting with the structural landscaping and adding planting and features over subsequent seasons. We’re experienced at designing and building in phases and will plan this carefully from the outset to ensure each phase makes sense on its own.

Will I see the design before you start building?

Always. We will not put a spade in the ground until you are entirely happy with the design and have approved the estimate. The visualisations we produce at the design stage are specifically designed to help you feel confident before the build begins.