About

Zoe Pilling, from a hobby to a qualified professional garden designer

As a former French and Spanish teacher, I excel at communication and making connections with people, supporting them through their journey towards garden transformation. I am warm and compassionate and can relate to your garden conundrums, having experienced them myself in my many years of gardening and designing my own spaces, including my first garden as a young single, a productive family garden with entertainment space and an elegant courtyard sanctuary.

My life-long gardening hobby has been the inspiration to becoming a garden designer as I became more passionate about creating beautiful spaces with plants. Other inspirations have been the range of landscapes encountered on my extensive travels (including living in Outer Mongolia), my concern for the environment and wild life and an eye for interior design.

I have studied on several  RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) courses over the years for interest and more recently a Shipley College Garden Design Course and  Level 3 Principles and Practices of Horticulture course which I passed with Distinction. I have since completed a Certificate in Residential Garden Design with a prestigious London Design School, KLC, recognised by the Society of Garden Designers. My design work has mainly included urban, small to medium-sized gardens but I will consider all projects.

Below, in the Gallery, there are examples of my work covering;

• A large neglected front garden transformed into a colourful haven for birds, butterflies and bees, with planting for both shady areas under trees and dry, sunny beds.
• A concrete yard turned into a visual delight of flowers and foliage all year round for disabled parents to enjoy from inside.
• A beautiful courtyard garden with a water channel and waterfall, clothed with climbers.
• A family garden with natural play area and secret paths, a family entertainment space and a secluded grown-up retreat.
• A wow-factor front garden with very dry conditions under trees
• A Mediterranean style seating and dining area with Italian-inspired planting
• A tiny front garden turned into an attractive mini allotment with abundant flowers
• Planting plans for large stunning beds in an exposed garden on a hill.

See my Portfolio and Case Studies for before and after photos and more detail.