Simon Orchard

Simon designed a modern landscaped garden to match our modern mid-century house on the Isle of Wight. We had the house re-built but the original tired 70's garden just didn't fit, and we realised we needed to completely start from scratch. Simon visited the house and we agreed some design parameters. The garden is sloped and largely based on clay so we had a serious engineering task on our hands. The detailed specifications for the overall design, the concrete floating steps, drainage, lighting as well as the planting plan were developed by Simon. The project took us ten months of work to complete in "slow Isle of Wight time", but we are very pleased with the result. This was a six figure project meaning the scope included an initial removal of 120 tons of clay. The house sits appropriately now in it's surroundings. The steps, paths and seating areas are a triumph! The plants are establishing themselves. We found Simon was easy to work with, a good communicator and more importantly he has an eye for detail and design. He is highly experienced which simply stated means "he knows his stuff". Highly recommended.

Dream garden We had an idea what our garden should look like. However we realised that a new garden is much more than just choosing plants and hard materials. We wanted a complete makeover, from back door to back gate, every part of our long narrow garden to be thought of. We found Simon online when searching for a designer, we liked his approach on paper, his previous work and his very friendly yet professional attitude. We met in person, he drafted a plan and we signed up. We trusted him completely. We had a few zoom calls. Our whole family was involved in building the most suitable design. Simon noted all of our wishes and presented us with great drawings. We loved it all and went ahead. More detailed plans came through later as well as recommendations for landscaping companies to choose from to make the design a reality. It took approximately 10 months from the search for our garden designer to the project being completed, including Christmas, extremely wet weather, holidays. Simon designed our garden according to our needs, wishes and more. Of course he added elements I wouldn’t think of. We had a budget, however the budget grew a bit. I just wanted more and didn’t want to compromise on the hard landscaping materials. Having said that Simon helped us save money in areas where compromises were ok to be made eg choosing fences or a different gravel company. We left one element of Simon’s design out due to budget but it didn’t compromise on the final look of our garden and if we wish, it can be added in a couple of years time. Our landscapers received detailed plans, Simon was also available for phone calls throughout the process. They loved working on this project with him. When the plants arrived I got very excited. Simon listened to my wishes to include favourites and most of our existing plants. We call her our own Chelsea garden, fragrant, colour pleasing, dog and teenager friendly, birds and pollinators welcome, manageable to up keep, no lawn but still so green and lively. Thank you so much for making our first home complete.

We had the pleasure of working with Simon Orchard on a recent garden project at our EF Bournemouth residence, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Simon is a designer who truly values precision and attention to detail. From the very beginning, he was fully engaged in the project, offering insightful recommendations and ensuring that every aspect of the design was meticulously planned and executed. His collaboration with Labyrinth Landscapes, who he recommended, was seamless, showcasing a deep understanding of each other's processes. The results were spectacular, transforming our outdoor space into a vibrant, welcoming environment that our students and staff love. Simon’s dedication and expertise are truly commendable, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top-tier garden designer.

I am absolutely delighted with my garden, and cannot recommend Simon of Orchard Garden Design strongly enough. Every step of the process was enjoyable. In the early stages, Simon took great care to understand my likes, dislikes, colour and style preferences. His design is innovative, fun, and better than I could have hoped for. Simon really went the extra mile. For example, I asked that we not have any plants that are toxic to cats. Not only did he exclude the toxic list, but he also took care not to include any plants that could potentially be dangerous to cats (it's a very long list!). He also went to select the rocks in person to ensure that they are the right shade and size for the garden. I was also surprised to learn that almost every plant in the garden flowers, and Simon selected them so that I have something new popping up almost every week of the summer! Simon always gave me options, and explained the implications. I always felt very much part of the process. My garden is now growing, and Simon has kept in touch, giving advice as the plants mature. He built something that will bring me joy for many years.

Our garden is in a coastal location and can be subject to some challenging weather conditions. We had a number of initial conversations with a few well known garden designers (some featured on TV). Simon stood out right from the get go, his manner and initial thoughtful suggestions swung it for us. Throughout the whole design process Simon was very understanding and the fantastic design he came up with to suit our coastal location is superb, we love it. Simon also liaised with the landscape contractor and plant suppliers through the whole implementation phase which was helpful in making sure the design was implemented correctly. Simon was easily contactable throughout the whole process we would not hesitate to recommend or use him again.

We're very happy with our garden which was completed in February before the pandemic started. Really enjoyed seeing the different seasonal plants that have sprung up. Our garden is long and narrow, the design has made it feel intimate having different sections zigzagging across. We now have a great relaxing and entertaining space.

Impressive. With a difficult shape garden, 250yards from the sea front on the South Coast, this plan/resdesign was never going to be easy! Simon was acutely aware of my budget restrictions and worked with me, within the cost and time scale. I 'tweaked' some of his ideas but the overall plan and ingenious 'hidden vegetable patch' was a winner. I'm delighted with the finish product (other than the wind/sea salt frequently decimating my planting). I enjoyed working with Simon - he 'got me' which was all I could ask for.

I have been so very pleased with Simon's work in our garden design. We had a few meetings with other designers before deciding who to use, and it was a no-brainer that Simon won the contract. He always said what he was going to do when he was going to do it, but more importantly, he really listened to what we were wanting to get out of our garden design and pretty much on his first draft we loved it and barely wanted to change a thing. He pretty much nailed it first time. When the work begun he was great at liaising with the landscaper to sort anything out whilst the work was carried out, and was always easily reachable if we needed to speak to him. I believe that Simon is an exceptionally talented garden designer and is also very knowledgeable about garden products. To be honest I can't fault the guy. If you're deciding whether to use him or not, then go for it without hesitation.

Simon created an incredible garden design for us, consistent with our brief and vision but containing elements we would never have thought of ourselves. He documented the agreed design with great precision and detail, which made it easy for us to get a selection of comparable quotes from landscaping companies. He then helped us to oversee the build phase, working with the landscaping company to resolve issues and ensure the build exactly matched the design. Our garden has well and truly been transformed and we love spending time in it.

Really grateful for Simon's help with lanscaping our garden. With challenging shapes and levels his vision for solutions was invaluable!

Simon was a delight to work with, he was very logical and mapped out the garden design at every stage. He was always responsive and came up with many different ideas which helped me think about what I wanted in a garden. I am very pleased with the outcome and have been enjoying my garden throughout the summer. I would highly recommend Simon to help anyone fulfil their dreams of a stunning outdoor space.

Simon designed our back garden. It was a particularly challenging shape as we have a corner plot, but the designs Simon created were incredible in how we are now able to use the space. The attention to detail in the finishes, planting and layout have transformed our experience in the garden. I would thoroughly recommend Simon, his creativity and expertise.