AWARD-WINNING GARDEN DESIGN IN MARLOW
Rigden Studio offers a garden design service for clients in Marlow and the surrounding area. Whether you have a large landscape project or a small courtyard garden, we can create a bespoke design to fit your tastes and needs, while maintaining a focus on biodiversity and sustainability.
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 – they 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 a garden designer on board with your 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.
Tabitha was a very valuable resource when we just didn’t have the perspective to think outside of the box. She helped us create a 10-year-plan when we inherited my childhood home from my parents.
– C. Green, Great Missenden, Bucks
DESIGNING A GARDEN: STAGE BY STAGE – OUR PROCESS
1: INITIAL CONSULTATION
We meet in your garden to familiarise ourselves with the space and discuss your requirements and budget. We’ll compile a design brief with you, exchange ideas and gauge your likes and dislikes. We’ll also assess the site during this visit, specifically looking at routes, access, views, the aspect, soil, drainage and existing planting.
2: OUTLINE DESIGN
Now we nail the concept, conveying the overall look and feel of the garden! The Outline Design includes scaled plans, perspective drawings and sectional elevations (to illustrate level changes, if relevant). We compile material and planting palettes too, ensuring that each element compliments the next and that the overall scheme hangs together well.3: DETAIL DESIGN
Once the outline design is signed off, we develop the detail further, providing ‘Setting Out’ plans, level plans and cross-sections – all of which enable a contractor to accurately build the garden. We can also produce construction drawings for hardscape (including bespoke items), lighting plans and irrigation plans as required. Written specifications (covering all elements of the build, including soil preparation) are also produced at this stage, together with a Bill of Quantities. 4: TENDERING AND BUILD
Our Bill of Quantities will aid the accuracy at tendering stage, and we usually meet with potential or appointed contractors to discuss the design before work starts. A close working relationship between contractor and designer is essential to the success of any build, and we try to foster this from the start. We maintain communication throughout, visiting site at key stages of the build. We’re also on hand to answer queries and respond to changes remotely. 5: PLANTING DESIGN
Planting plans are provided for all areas of planting, with a schedule of plant names, optimal pot sizes and quantities. Plants are selected to thrive within each area – we work to a ‘right plant, right place’ philosophy. We source plants from a selection of excellent trade nurseries and set out the plants on site ourselves. Plants are usually planted by the landscaping contractor.6: AFTERCARE
We leave our clients with a maintenance schedule to help ensure their gardens thrive, and usually make regular visits while the garden is establishing.DESIGN CONSULTATIONS
Typical duration 1.5hr, depending on size of site. Rates start from £250.
2023
Enter your details below to request a callback or call 07900 810019
Rigden Studio designed the planting for three new tiered beds in my garden. I now have colour all through Spring, Summer and Autumn. I can’t recommend highly enough.
– L. Lista, Wheeler End, nr Marlow
MARLOW GARDEN DESIGN: PROJECTS FROM OUR PORTFOLIO
MARLOW GARDEN DESIGN: SMALL GRAVEL GARDEN
This semi-rural courtyard garden near Marlow was previously a dry patch of lawn with very few plants. Our clients wanted a lovely garden to relax in after work, as well as entertain friends. The space was split into two zones: a dining terrace wrapped in perennial planting is accessed off the kitchen, with steps down to a gravel garden containing plants that can tolerate dry conditions. New semi-mature trees provide shade and vertical interest, and there is a self-supporting framework for climbers. Custom-designed details, including integrated benches and decorative wall panels, make this Marlow garden unique. This versatile little space can now be used well into the evening thanks to a subtle lighting scheme.
MARLOW TOWN GARDEN DESIGN: URBAN COURTYARD
The design for this courtyard garden in the riverside town of Marlow is inspired by the furniture and eclectic selection of planters within it. The pots are used to frame and divide the space, creating separate dining and seating areas on two levels. They have planting in the gravel around their bases to soften the edges, but equally could be reconfigured should the requirements for the space change in future.
We worked with Tabitha to create a garden around our new home. She was flexible and budget-aware throughout. The garden is still establishing, but we have had many compliments and the wildlife love it.
– C. David, Frieth, nr Marlow
STUDIO RECOGNITION
HOUSE & GARDEN RISING STAR 2025
Tabitha was honoured to be named Rising Star 2025 at House & Garden’s design awards at Christie’s, London, in April - what a moment. She was one of 10 design talents who claimed an awardsacross 10 categories that spanned Interior design and Garden design. The beautiful David Harber trophy, crafted from a bronze ribbon offcut used in their iconic sundials, now sits proudly in the studio.
A huge thank you to the category sponsors Emma and Hector Finch of Hector Finch Lighting for presenting the award, and to Richard E. Grant for the unforgettable on-stage welcome! We’re deeply grateful to the amazing team at House & Garden for their support and acknowledgment. It was an honour to stand alongside horticultural greats like Sarah Price and Nigel Dunnett, and the gifted individuals from the world of interior design.
HESTIA GARDEN AT THE PLOUGH SHIPLAKE A WINNER AT THE SGLD AWARDS 2025
Tabitha was thrilled to accept the award for New Designer 2025 at the annual ceremony at London's Landmark Hotel - and to discover that Hestia Garden is the first ever pub garden to win a coveted SGLD 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!