“Everything they touch turns to gold”

The Telegraph

Harriet Parsons Garden Design

We design gardens shaped around the people who use them. 

By bringing together thoughtful design with practical understanding, we create outdoor spaces that feel natural, personal and connected to everyday life.

Every garden begins with listening, to what you need, how you want to use the space, and what the site itself offers. From there, we design with care so the finished garden feels calm, coherent and built to last.

Landscape Design

Garden Design

Consultancy

Planting Proposal

Maintenance Advice

About Us

We are Harriet Parsons and Sam Butler.

 

We work closely together as a design studio creating gardens that feel elegant, functional and attuned to their surroundings. With complementary backgrounds in landscape and garden design, horticulture, planting and project development, we bring a balanced mix of creative thinking and practical understanding to every project.

Together, we develop gardens from early ideas through to detailed design and delivery. We take time to listen, to understand the site and how the space will be used, and to guide you through the process with clarity and care. The result is a garden that feels settled, personal and enduring. It is a space that works quietly and beautifully as part of everyday life

Harriet

Founder

Harriet trained in both landscape design and horticulture which gives her a strong understanding of how structure and planting work together in a garden. She gained the prestigious Diploma in Horticulture from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and with this a comprehensive knowledge of plants and how they perform, grow and thrive within a landscape setting.

She works across design and consultancy, helping clients navigate the many decisions involved in creating and/or developing a garden. Her approach is rooted in careful listening and practical judgement, resulting in outdoor spaces that feel balanced, thoughtful and easy to live with.

Sam

Designer

Sam trained in garden design in Italy and brings a calm, measured approach to shaping each project. Her work is informed by careful planning, technical clarity and an understanding of how gardens are used day to day. 

She works on the design and development of projects, supporting the progression from early ideas through to detailed layouts and delivery. Sam’s approach is practical and considered, helping ensure gardens are well structured, easy to navigate and comfortable to live with over time.

What We Do

Our work spans gardens and landscapes across the UK and Europe, from compact city spaces to larger rural settings. We offer both a full garden and landscape design service, as well as consultancy, allowing clients to choose the level of support that best suits their project.

 

Garden and Landscape Design

Our design service provides a clear framework for shaping a garden from first ideas through to a resolved layout.   This typically includes site analysis and masterplanning, before progressing to more detailed design and planting design as required.

Each stage builds on the last, allowing the garden to develop as a coherent whole, informed by the architecture, the site and the way the space will be used. Where helpful, we can also remain involved through the construction and planting stages, providing on-site design support to help ensure the garden is delivered as intended.

 

Consultancy

Alongside full design services, we also offer consultancy, a more flexible form of support. This allows clients to draw on our design and horticultural expertise without committing to a full design process.

Consultancy might involve advice on layout, planting, materials, or the development of an existing garden. We can support projects at any stage, whether for early guidance, problem-solving, or refining specific areas.

Both approaches are collaborative and shaped around each project’s needs.   We regularly work alongside architects, interior designers and other professionals where appropriate, ensuring the garden sits naturally within its wider context.

 

Photograph by Stephen Studd Photography

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Maintenance & Ongoing Care

A garden doesn’t stand still. It grows, shifts and matures over time. Thoughtful care in the early years helps the planting establish well and allows the space to develop as intended.

We offer ongoing support after installation, from tailored maintenance guidance to seasonal planting advice as the garden settles in. This might include recommendations on spring bulbs, pruning, or small planting additions that enhance the garden through the seasons.

Where helpful, we can also liaise with your gardener or provide occasional visits to ensure the garden continues to thrive and develop beautifully over time.

 

Photograph by Rebekah Kennington.

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Our Projects

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Alongside our studio work, we have long been involved in planting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, leading planting teams on main avenue gardens and supporting high-profile designers in bringing ambitious show landscapes to life. 

Across the gardens we have helped deliver, the work has been recognised with ten Gold medals, one Silver medal and a number of Best in Show awards. This experience reflects the care, precision and practical expertise we bring to every project.

 

11 Gold Medals  |  1 Silver Guilt Medal  |  Multiple Best in Show Awards

How We Work

Our process is clear and collaborative, guiding each project from our first visit through to a fully developed garden.

 

Stage 1: Site Survey and Masterplan

We begin by getting to know the site properly.   This includes looking at levels, drainage, existing features and the wider setting, as well as how the garden relates to the house and how it will be lived in day to day. 

Using this understanding and your brief, we develop the overall structure of the garden, creating a masterplan that sets out the layout, circulation, planting areas, key features and overall character. Sketches or mood imagery are used where helpful to convey the intended feel. 

 

Stage 2: Design Development

Once the masterplan is agreed, the project can progress into further stages as needed, including:

  • Detailed design.
  • Planting design.
  • Tendering.
  • Documentation.
  • On-site design support.

Each step is offered separately and shaped around the needs of the project.