• Design
• Landscaping-New build, rejuvenate, special features
• Writing – Books, magazines, newspapers
• Lectures
• Demonstrations
• After dinner/lunch talks
• Host Gardening Cruises

Design and getting to know you
At the initial consultation it is essential that I get to know you, listen to your ideas and make notes of your wish list. Perhaps you are an ardent gardener with a high level of expertise. On the other hand you may not be particularly interested in the “hands-on” bit of gardening but would like a “nice” garden that is a joy to use.
Where there are children or grandchildren then safety is paramount and a suitably positioned, safe play area, in view from the house is probably well up the wish list.

At this meeting the design brief is discussed and at the end of the consultation I will, if you wish, give you an approximate cost of the finished job.

I prefer to estimate the cost rather than asking you how much you are prepared to pay. That way you won’t feel that I am pricing to meet your upper target. If the figure is too high the outline can be trimmed back or, if you are prepared to spend above the estimated cost, additional features may be incorporated.

Site measurements and specifications
Dependant upon the size of the site these are taken on the day of the consultation or at a follow-up visit.  The site will be photographed to highlight aspects to be considered when designing and to have a record of what it was like before we started. We will keep a photographic record as we progress the work.

Next meeting
I will arrive at a time to suit you, armed with a proposed design and cost to suit your requirements. The plan will be hand drawn rather than a less relaxed computer image. Materials for patio surfaces along with your particular plant likes and dislikes will be ironed out. Hopefully at the end of the meeting we can shake hands having agreed the total cost of the project and set a start date and a realistic time to complete the work.

Terms
Payments are staged with a percentage of 10% being paid before mobilisation and staged payments of 20% as we progress the work. We allow a small amount of 5% to be retained for 3 months to cover for the cost of any plants supplied by us if they don’t make it through the first season. We reserve the right to replace the plants ourselves at a suitable planting time, or ask you to pay from the retained amount.