Garden Designer & Plantswoman | Bel Grierson | Loughborough, Leicestershire
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    • Traditional Kitchen and Formal Garden - Loughborough
    • Cool Colour Palette Planting Scheme - Melton Mowbray
    • Country Garden Planting Transformation - Little Dalby
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  • Home
  • Garden Design
  • Planting Design
  • Portfolio
    • Contemporary Country Garden - Stanford on Soar
    • Country Garden - Rothley
    • Plant Lovers Garden - Shepshed
    • Large Family Garden - Burbage
    • Gravel Garden - Rothley
    • Family Garden - Ashby de la Zouch
    • Sloping Garden - Ashby de la Zouch
    • Long Narrow Garden - Shepshed
    • Plant Lovers Paradise - Ragdale
    • Contemporary Cottage Garden - Loughborough
    • Formal Front Garden - Loughborough
    • Kerb Appeal Front Garden - Ashby de la Zouch
    • Traditional Kitchen and Formal Garden - Loughborough
    • Cool Colour Palette Planting Scheme - Melton Mowbray
    • Country Garden Planting Transformation - Little Dalby
    • Wildlife Pond Project - Loughborough
    • Country Style Front Garden- Fiskerton, Nottinghamshire
    • Curvaceous Country Garden - Blaby
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • ADVICE HUB

Advice Hub

Garden Inspiration, Expertise and Advice

Kitchen & Formal Garden Transformation

25/12/2020

 
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The transformation process
From wilderness to elegant garden
Back in early 2019, Bel was contacted by clients in Loughborough in the depths of a large renovation project of a 1930's property.  Keen to plan ahead they were looking to have a garden design plan ready for and waiting for when the builders left site. 
 
The clients had two key requests - a substantial kitchen garden, with space for a Greenhouse, raised beds and fruit trees and a level croquet lawn. As the clients are very busy, and keen to spend their time concentrating on growing produce, the ornamental planting was to be kept to a minimum  whilst still offering year-round colour and interest.  

Bel created a Garden Design Package to develop the site tailored to the clients needs and budget. The physical transformation began in early May 2020 in the midst of the Pandemic. Thankfully the team were able to work outside safely and rapidly cleared the site and set to the construction of the kitchen garden raised beds, paving and greenhouse base. The oak sleeper terracing then went in which enabled 2 large level 'terraces' to be created which would be used for the croquet lawn and kitchen garden areas. The level changes across the site created steps, tiered pathways and seating areas and a pathway to access the kitchen garden easily from the house. A raised pathway  also allowed for an area to view the croquet lawn during play.  A series of timber square framed arches were installed, adding height and framing the view to the kitchen garden. An orchard area for fruit trees was created adjacent  to the kitchen garden and the ground laid with wildflower meadow turf to attract wildlife.  To the rear, the mature trees were selectively pruned and rejuvenated then underplanted with woodland style planting, offering a wilder area within the garden...

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Transforming a Courtyard Garden

8/5/2020

 
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I was contacted by the owners of this garden back in July 2018.  They had just bought the property and were having an extension built at the time. I visited shortly afterwards to see how we could transform the  rough messy lawn and overgrown shrubs into a low maintenance elegant space for the clients to enjoy.  They longed for a greenhouse, planting beds and seating areas for entertaining family.  There was limited space to play with and the garden was overlooked by several neighboring properties. 

Bel created 2D and 3D design plans and visuals for the garden to show the clients how the space could be transformed. These were accompanied by mood boards showing the features for the space along with dimensional plans for the landscapers to use whilst setting out the various patio, pathway and planting beds. A scope of works was also provided which detailed the work involved in landscaping the garden and which could be used by the landscaper to draw up a quote for the works. Find out more about the Garden Design Process ...

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Garden Design Package - Whats included?

6/4/2020

 
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For all projects, regardless of size i like to provide my clients with as much information as possible - plenty of detail about the features, style and layout of the space plus in depth information for the landscapers to quote and build from. So what can you expect from Garden Design Package?  The following images represent the documents presented to clients on a project in Loughborough. The garden has now been landscaped as shown below.

A pack of detailed documents was provided to the owners of this recently renovated property at the Concept Design Presentation. The pack included:

​Garden Design Plan - A detailed 2D colour plan, drawn to scale showing the proposed layout for the garden including paving, pathways, lawn, edgings, terracing, planting beds etc. The plan is annotated with notes relating to the features in the garden.  These plans are produced digitally so they are accurate, clear and easy to interpret. 

Mood Boards - Quality colour mood boards printed on photo paper which convey the mood of the proposed scheme, including landscaping materials, features and planting style

3D Visuals - A series of 3D plans showing various views of the garden to assist in conveying the style, layout and feel of the space. These are created digitally and typically colour rendered...

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Keep Calm and Carry on Gardening - Free Advice & Inspiration

4/4/2020

 
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What very strange times we are living through at the moment! Whilst vast teams of carers, food distribution works, politicians, amongst others, fight the war on Covid 19 so many of use are heeding the advice to stay at home. 
Stuck within the confines of our homes and gardens it's easy to get restless and we all need something to keep us busy. So i urge you to get out into your garden (following the social distancing guidelines obviously!). 
The sun is shining and spring has arrived so with more time on our hands now is a perfect opportunity to take a look at what we have and make the most of it. 
​FREE GARDENING ADVICE >>> There are lots of articles on the ADVICE HUB which i have written to inspire your next project, be it ideas for screening, paving, planting borders and pots, encouraging wildlife, transforming small gardens and so much more. 
And what's more it's all free advice and at your disposal!...
If you'd like more detailed advice about your garden project, i am taking bookings for remote consultations. Get in touch to find out more

Bel Grierson

Expert Plantswoman and Garden Designer with 20 years experience in horticulture.  Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small. 

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How Much Does a Planting Design Transformation Cost?

31/1/2020

 
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When a client contacts me about planting design it's usually when they've realised that they need help from a professional when selecting, combining and planting the right plants for the right place in their garden.  I've been working with plants for 20 years and over that time I've developed a wealthy of information and knowledge about which plants work well together and where plus when they need to be planted.  When you're considering transforming the planting in your garden, how much will it cost?

There are a few things to consider when you're thinking about budgets for a planting design project:

How big is your garden?  The size of space to be transformed has a huge effect on the overall costs. Large gardens take considerable time to design, prepare and plant plus there will be large quantities soil improver and plants needed...

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How Much Does a Garden Design Transformation Cost?

31/1/2020

 
Small town garden, Loughborough
Small garden costing approx. £25k
Gravel Garden, Rothley Leicestershire
Medium garden costing approx. £30k
When a potential new client gets in touch with me i ask a few basic questions about their garden as it is now, what they would like to do to the garden and how much they would be comfortable spending on the transformation. All simple questions and the first two are generally easy for clients to answer but the budget question can be a difficult one for them.  Creating your ideal garden takes design expertise and knowledge, a skilled workforce and a whole host of materials, so it's not a cheap undertaking. It's important to think about how much you are happy to spend and what is feasible with the funds you have available. 

There are a few things to consider when you're thinking about budgets for a garden project:

How big is your garden?  The size of space to be transformed has a huge effect on the overall costs. Large gardens take considerable time to design, landscape and plant plus there will be large quantities of all the materials needed where as small gardens can be much less costly overall. A small garden can be expensive however, if the client has a long wish list of requirements....

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Computer Aided Design - Creating Garden Design Plans & Visuals

29/11/2019

 
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Hand Drawn Plans versus Computer Aided Design
Many garden designers opt to create hand drawn design plans, which can be works of art in their own right. Although i do love to draw, I find that hand drawing, colouring and labelling plans can be very time consuming, especially if a mistake is made and its back to beginning again! 
I've always been technology savvy and I'm also pretty proficient with pen and paper too. Up until 2018 i had been combining my skills by hand drawing 2D concept designs and planting plans and then using CAD software to add the finishing touches - colouring in the plans and labelling them, i found  colour rendering and annotating on a pc the most efficient use of my time, with consistent neat results and easy alterations.
In January 2019 i progressed on to using 2D and 3D computer software for the whole design process, from initially creating a to-scale plan of the site through to the final concept design plans and 3D visualisations.​
​Why have i opted to go use CAD software? Well increasingly i've wanted to be able to offer my clients a really accurate to-scale representation of their garden...

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Garden Transformation - Small Town Garden

2/10/2019

 
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When i first viewed this garden, it was a mess of poor DIY paving, dangerous steps and had a rather ugly concrete garage. The owner had a clear vision of what she wanted her garden to be like and how she would use her outdoor living space. The key requirements for the space were to screen the unsightly garage, create a seaside inspired upper terrace, design a calming patio area for yoga practice on the lower terrace and to revamp the existing raised sleeper beds and decking. The property has far reaching views of the countryside beyond which the client was keen to use as borrowed landscape. However, neighboring proprieties interrupted this view so privacy screening needed to be worked into the garden design plan.
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With a modest budget, some of the existing elements were combined into the new design allowing the client to make the most effective use of her funds. The lawn was removed and the existing patio relaid with contemporary Indian sandstone paving in grey and inset paved pathways where created within a gravel seaside style area on the upper level...


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    Welcome to the
    ADVICE HUB

    Here you'll find lots of useful information, Tips, Ideas and Advice on Garden Design, Planting Design, Garden Maintenance and on how to get the most from your outdoor space. 
    Need more help from a Garden Expert?
    Contact Bel today.
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    Author: Bel Grierson

    Expert Plantswoman and Garden Designer with 20 years experience in horticulture.  Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small.

    Looking for advice on budgeting for a garden transformation? Check out these articles:
     Garden Design Project
    Planting Design Project
    Want to know what's included in a design package? Take a look at these articles for more info:
    Garden Design Package
    Planting Design Package

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We are absolutely delighted with our beautiful new garden designed and installed by Bel! We had an unusually shaped garden which we didn't have the knowledge to handle, but at the same time had quite specific ideas of what we liked and disliked. Bel listened to our ideas and the challenge didn't phase her at all! The preparation of the the soil by her team, and the planting of the garden by Bel herself over three days couldn't have gone smoother. We would highly recommend Bel in terms of her expertise, conscientiousness and friendly, easy going personality and we can't stop looking at our amazing new garden!

Mrs Prist, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

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"Bel is brilliant. Easy to work with. Lots of ideas and plans but great at listening and quickly tapping into what you like, want and need. She has bags of style with a healthy dose of practicality and is 100% reliable. Totally recommend." ​

Mrs Munden - Thrussington, Leicestershire

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"Bel delivered professional advice in a friendly way after she had established what her clients wished to achieve.  All in all - it has been a pleasure to work with her"

Mrs Harrison - Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire

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"If you are looking for advice on your garden or a new designs then look no further than Bel Grierson. We have used her on several aspects of our garden to lower the maintenance and update the planting with spectacular results. Bel is easy to work with and is totally in tune with all our requirements."

Mr Stapleton - Rothley, Leicestershire

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"Bel has delivered a delightful garden with a design that has transformed a shallow plot surrounded by fences, into a garden full of interest.  Bel listened carefully to our concerns and gave her total attention to each step of the way." ​​

Mr & Mrs Bayley - Loughborough, Leicestershire

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​​"Our 20 year old garden was looking tired and boring. No colour and a mishmash of plants that were past their sell-by date. We had no idea what to do to rescue the situation as we knew very little about what plants would do well. Then we found Bel. Our garden is transformed; beautiful colour that just keeps coming all through the year, easy maintenance and a joy to sit and look at with an appropriate glass in one hand. Bel interpreted our thoughts perfectly and has produced an extraordinary result. She is patient with non-gardeners, knowledgeable and highly professional. Not afraid to get her hands dirty and endlessly helpful. I simply cannot recommend her too highly."

Mr & Mrs Benussi - Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire

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"Bel redesigned and planted our garden this summer. It has transformed it from dark and dingy to a fresh open space. Bel is a pleasure to work with, friendly and helpful, full of ideas and always ready to listen to what you want and find the best way of delivering it. Recommended!"

Mr Goodman - Loughborough, Leicestershire

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​"Bel provided good advice and warm, friendly and professional support at all stages of our garden transformation. Her knowledge about plants and her design ideas gave us confidence from the outset. We are delighted with the result, and now look forward to enjoying our new garden in the months and years to come."

Mr Corner - Rearsby, Leicestershire

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"Bel has recently redesigned a large area in my garden which was previously a 'wilderness'. I was very pleased with the design that she came up with - it was clear that she had paid attention to what I had said I wanted and understood my style. Great communication throughout the process and now that the planting is finished I am looking forward to next spring and watching it develop."

Mrs Phillips - Ratby, Leicestershire

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Thank you very much Bel for your design to renovate our back garden. It’s been great to work with you, we really appreciated spending time with you to hear your ideas and develop those with you for a new vision for our garden. We love the pond and wild at the back of the garden and the new plants you’ve sourced have all settled in very well and we are excited to see how they will grow!

Mr & Mrs Adshead, Loughborough

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For more Reviews of Bel Grierson Garden Design Limited see Google Reviews
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Bel Grierson Garden Design Limited
Registered Address: C/O Chesterton House Accounting Services LLP, 2-3 Rectory Place, Loughborough, LE11 1UW

Company Number:  13017102 (England & Wales)
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