Welcome to Ellen Spencer Garden Design. I create beautiful, practical gardens through a combination of creative thinking, rigorous planning and a deep understanding of plants.

My starting point is always a thorough understanding of the people, the property and what the garden needs to achieve. I take time to develop a detailed brief that considers not only how a garden should look, but how it needs to work: how people will use it, what they need from the space, what constraints need to be overcome and what opportunities can be exploited. I then use creative problem-solving to develop solutions that bring these requirements together in a way that is both practical and beautifully resolved.

I have a particular eye for detail, and believe that the quality of a garden lies as much in the thought behind its design as in its finished appearance. From the overall structure and movement through a garden to the precise relationship between materials, planting and the architecture of the house, I consider how every element contributes to the whole. My aim is not simply to make a garden look good, but to make it work exceptionally well for the people who use it.

My love of gardens began in childhood, during family visits to heritage gardens such as Chatsworth, Bodnant and Stourhead, and horticultural college Capel Manor. I was captivated by the meeting of nature and human creativity, and that fascination never left me. My first work experience was at a plant nursery, where I learned the foundations of horticulture and developed an enduring passion for plants.

My initial career took me into professional services with one of the Big Four accountancy firms, and I’ve worked for many years in academia, researching and writing about creative thinking.

When my youngest daughter started school, I decided to pursue the interest that had always remained with me. I undertook formal training in horticulture at Sparsholt College, where I developed a knowledge of plant science and garden planning and, somewhat unexpectedly, a particular enthusiasm for Latin plant names.

I have since gained several horticultural qualifications, culminating in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture. I am also completing postgraduate training with the British Academy of Garden Design, with all assignments completed with Distinction, further developing the creative and technical skills needed to design gardens that are both beautiful and functional.

Alongside garden design, I have a background and current practice in research and writing in creativity and learning. That experience has shaped the way I approach design: I enjoy analysing a complex set of requirements and turning it into a clear brief, looking at a problem from different angles and finding solutions that may not be immediately obvious.

I am particularly drawn to planting design and the subtle interplay of foliage, texture, form and seasonal change. But I am equally interested in the practical challenges that make each garden unique. Living in a mid-century property with an established garden, I understand the value of working with what’s already there. Whether the challenge is an awkwardly positioned oil tank, an unattractive view or a window that needs screening, I enjoy finding solutions that improve both the garden and its relationship with the home.

For me, the most rewarding gardens are those where careful thought makes everything feel as though it belongs. Beautiful, useful and thoroughly considered - and, ideally, better than the client initially imagined.