SUSTAINABLE GARDENS AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN
– We love designing gardens that are rooted to place; we draw inspiration from the local landscape and plant ecology. Creating sustainable landscapes with longevity is key to our designs. Our garden and landscape design studio is based near Marlow in Buckinghamshire, however we work on projects across the UK –
AWARD-WINNING GARDEN DESIGN BY TABITHA RIGDEN
Every garden we design is bespoke, we work with you from beginning to end to create a garden that fits your needs and aspirations. From planting designs for a single border, to a full re-design of your entire plot, we can offer a package to suit you. We work on both domestic and commercial projects, from urban courtyard gardens to large rural landcapes.
FEATURED GARDEN DESIGNS
Large family garden, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Pub dining garden, Shiplake, Oxfordshire
Courtyard garden, Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Tabitha’s enthusiasm, knowledge and attention to detail made the whole process enjoyable from start to finish. We’re thrilled with the result.
-T. Osen, Godalming, Surrey
2023
WHY HIRE A GARDEN DESIGNER?
So, why hire a garden designer for your project? Why hire an architect to design your home, or extension? It’s a similar thing. Like an architect, a garden designer will bring their expertise and knowledge to ensure that you do this just once, and that you enjoy the results for years to come.
There are so many elements to take into account when designing a garden – the configuration of space, an understanding of how each part should be built, good planting knowledge and an awareness of how to deal with excess water. There are also the details that make a garden bespoke to you, whether a seat or a sculpture or a particular palette of colours, and an understanding of how to use minimal lighting to maximum effect. It’s all these factors that make a design work.
Gardens will naturally evolve over time – plants are by and large living entities after all – however it’s important that they are future-proofed to an extent. Understanding how materials will age is key, and gauging when this might be problematic (and also when it isn’t). The plan should recommend plants that thrive in the existing soil conditions and aspect, as well as the changing climate – a very real consideration when designing for the medium to long term.
In short, bringing in a garden designer for your outdoor project is an investment in your home and in your lifestyle. A well designed garden has many beneficial effects on health and wellbeing, as well as helping to combat the climate crisis by creating biodiversity, habitat for wildlife and storing carbon. A garden design professional will help you avoid the various pitfalls that can bring additional cost and hassle; they will work alongside the landscaping team to ensure the garden is built and planted to a high standard.
We were impressed with Tabitha’s attention to detail, her creativity and depth of knowledge, the quality of the designs and supporting documents. She really listened to what we wanted to achieve and adapted the design to ensure the project respected our budget, finding clever ways to use high quality materials.
– T. O’Flynn, Maidenhead, Berkshire
STUDIO NEWS
HESTIA GARDEN AT THE PLOUGH SHIPLAKE A WINNER AT THE SGD AWARDS 2025
Tabitha was thrilled to accept the award for New Designer 2025 at the annual ceremony at London's Landmark Hotel in February 2025 - and to discover that Hestia Garden is the first ever pub garden to win a coveted SGD Award!
The garden was also selected as a finalist in the 'Public Realm Landscapes & Gardens' category for 2025, standing alongside some of the most prominent names in the industry – a major milestone for the studio.
'TRANQUIL COURTYARD GARDEN' SHORTLISTED FOR PROLANDSCAPER AWARD 2024
Our Marlow courtyard garden made it onto the Prolandscaper Projects Award shortlist 2024, in the category for projects costing under £50,000 to build.
This little jewel of a garden is a good example of what can be achieved in a small space, for both biodiversity and aesthetics - and why lawns aren’t for everyone!
STUDIO TRIP TO BELGIUM TO STUDY THE ULTIMATE CLAY BRICK
A much-anticipated visit to the Belgian clay brick manufacturer Vande Moortel, in Oudengaard.
Such a versatile product that works in both modern and historical gardens, with so many detailing opportunities for a truly bespoke pattern.
Fascinated by the factory tour and gained valuable insights into exciting new products
THE ROYAL ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY GARDEN AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2023
Tabitha once again joined Tom Massey and his team to help plant up his ground-breaking Entomological Society garden at Chelsea. The garden was one after our own hearts, placing insects and their habitats front and centre. Designed to highlight their vital role in our world, this garden demonstrates the positive environmental impact of well-considered landscape design.
The garden was built re-using waste rubble, sand and deadwood and was inspired by the biodiversity found in brown-field sites. It really shows how, by carefully designing waste into a scheme, you can create something beautiful as well as providing habitat space for wildlife.
THE META GARDEN AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2022
Tabitha spent the week helping Garden Designer Joe Perkins and his brilliant team plant up The Meta Garden at Chelsea Flower Show 2022. The Meta Garden: Growing the Future aimed to highlight the interdependent relationship between soil, fungi, plants and trees.
It was great to be involved in a show garden where sustainability was considered throughout. As well as being constructed without the use of concrete, the garden was rehomed after the show in partnership with The National Forest.
We were delighted to see Joe and the team receive an RHS gold medal for the garden! The design, the finish and the planting combinations were simply exquisite.
SGD AWARD WINNERS 2021
We are thrilled that our Murmuration Garden For Rehabilitation was announced winner in the Paper Landscapes category at the prestigous Society of Garden Designers Awards 2021. This was a project close to our hearts, and it meant a lot to have our work recognised by our peers - even more so to have the award presented to us in person by esteemed Garden Designer Jo Thompson.
2021
YEO VALLEY ORGANIC GARDEN AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2021
It was fantastic to be invited onto the planting team working on the Yeo Valley Organic Garden, designed by Tom Massey at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021. This was the first ever wholly organic garden at Chelsea, and it was so inspiring to see such sustainable design on Main Avenue.
The Autumnal planting scheme certainly made the most of the postponed show date, with warm toned perennials and grasses basking in the September sun.
We were so pleased for Tom Massey and Sarah Mead of Yeo Valley Organic – as well as the landscape contractor Landscape Associates and plant supplier Hortus Loci – when the garden received a gold medal, and then went on to win People’s Choice. What an achievement for the organic movement!
2021
THE RAIN GARDEN BORDER AT BELVOIR CASTLE FLOWER SHOW 2020
Our Rain Garden Border was one of six borders selected to be built at Belvoir Castle Flower and Garden Show 2020, which took place in September - two months later than originally planned. The planting got a very positive response from the visiting public, who loved the wild feel of the border - it sparked many a conversation about planting wetter areas of the garden, and using plants to absorb surface water run-off from driveways and patios.
Tabitha guided us through the detailed development process including surveying and tender specification. The result was a beautiful space, delivered on budget.
– J. and V. Howe, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire
TESTIMONIALS
S. Charles
Wokingham, Berkshire
Working with Tabitha on the landscape design for my new build project in Frieth was great. She understood the design approach really well and created a landscape scheme that complimented the architecture perfectly and married the internal and external spaces beautifully.
B. Gombert
Architect
Connected Architecture, Berkshire
Tabitha was a valuable resource when we didn’t have the perspective to think outside of the box. She helped us gain a clear vision of what might be possible, helping us create a 10 year plan and to understand how we might be able to plant for our ever warming summers. We are grateful to her for her dedication to our project.
C. Black
Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire