About Garden Design UK

Cultivating excellence in British garden design education since 2019

Our Mission

Garden Design UK was founded with a simple yet ambitious goal: to make world-class garden design education accessible to everyone across Britain. We believe that beautiful, thriving gardens should be within everyone's reach, regardless of experience level or location.

By combining traditional horticultural wisdom with cutting-edge AI technology, we've created a unique learning platform that adapts to each student's needs, climate, and garden conditions. Our courses are designed by experienced horticulturists and garden designers who understand the unique challenges of British gardening.

Garden Design UK team working together in demonstration garden

Our Values

Excellence in Education

We're committed to providing the highest quality garden design education, combining academic rigour with practical, hands-on learning.

Sustainability

We promote environmentally responsible gardening practices that work with nature, not against it.

Community

We foster a supportive community of gardeners who share knowledge, inspiration, and encouragement.

Innovation

We embrace technology to enhance traditional gardening wisdom, making learning more effective and accessible.

Meet Our Team

Eleanor Hartley, Managing Director of Garden Design UK

Eleanor Hartley

Managing Director

With over 20 years in landscape design, Eleanor has transformed gardens across Britain. She holds an RHS Master of Horticulture and has won multiple awards for her innovative garden designs.

Dr. William Ashford, Head of Education at Garden Design UK

Dr. William Ashford

Head of Education

Dr. Ashford brings academic excellence to our courses. With a PhD in Horticultural Science and 15 years of teaching experience, he ensures our curriculum meets the highest educational standards.

Charlotte Pemberton, Technical Director at Garden Design UK

Charlotte Pemberton

Technical Director

Charlotte leads our AI garden planner development. Her background in software engineering and passion for gardening have created the perfect blend of technology and horticulture.

5,000+
Students Enrolled
12
Expert Courses
98%
Satisfaction Rate
6
Years of Excellence

Our Story

Garden Design UK was born from a conversation in a London community garden in 2018. Eleanor Hartley, a professional landscape designer, was volunteering and noticed how many people wanted to improve their gardens but didn't know where to start. Traditional courses were expensive, time-consuming, and often not tailored to British conditions.

She partnered with Dr. William Ashford, who had been researching innovative horticultural education methods, and Charlotte Pemberton, a software engineer with a passion for gardening. Together, they envisioned an online platform that would make expert garden design education accessible to everyone.

In March 2019, Garden Design UK launched with three courses and 50 students. The response was overwhelming. Students loved the combination of expert instruction, practical video tutorials, and the innovative AI garden planner that provided personalised recommendations.

Today, we've grown to serve over 5,000 students across the UK, offering 12 comprehensive courses covering everything from basic garden design to rare plant cultivation. Our AI planner has helped design thousands of gardens, and our community continues to grow.

But our mission remains the same: to empower every British gardener with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to create beautiful, thriving gardens that bring joy for years to come.

Join Our Growing Community

Start your garden design journey with expert guidance and support

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