“Looking around, nothing in nature is uniform—that’s the backdrop we love to work with.”
“The right plant in the right place ensures your garden stands the test of time”.
“Don’t be afraid to create something from instinct, even if it’s not the done thing or in fashion.”
“I want a garden to have a soul for it to be real and for it to last.”
“No design is truly bespoke – it’s a mix of gathered ideas, reshaped and reimagined into something new.”
“Don’t be afraid of simplicity in your planting scheme; be bold and use native plants to stand the test of time”.
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Can you guess what this is?
This bespoke seat is made from sequoia, a wood with a natural resistance to rot, decay and insects, which makes it durable and long-lasting outdoors. Its curve was shaped to follow the dry stone wall behind it, so the two sit together as one.
Natural materials like these don’t stand still. The timber and stone weather and mellow, and the whole piece grows richer with the years.
Thoughtful design is in the details you notice up close.
Accompanied with wonderful craftsmanship from Alistair Williams @sawdst_diesel
#landscapedesign #rachaelwhitedesigns #bespokedesign #drystonewall #gardenseating craftsmanship
The magic starts with the structure.
In this Cotswold garden, the proportions, rhythm and bespoke detailing of the steel arches set the scene for everything that follows.
Then comes the joy of watching the planting grow into it. New shoots, flowers, summer shade and autumn gold bring a different character with each season, while the framework quietly holds it all together.
Thoughtful design gives a garden room to evolve, becoming richer with the years. No garden is ever truly finished.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #evolvinggardens #gardenbackbone #methodbehindthemagic
Back at a nursery last week, tagging trees for next year’s gardens.
A statement Catalpa, a multistem Malus and Acca’s [pineapple guavas] we’re trialling as an alternative to olive. Always love the pollarded willow too, plus our usual fix of Pinus, of course!
Sometimes the simplest choices make the biggest impact: an avenue of multistem crataegus [hawthorn], bringing blossom, autumn colour and winter structure.
Native trees, used well and repeated, need little embellishment.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #gardendesign #treeplanting #legacylandscapes
No two sets of steps are quite the same. The change in level, the choice of material and the way people move through a garden all shape the design.
We draw each set for the garden it belongs to, working with the natural contours to create steps that feel comfortable underfoot and at home in their surroundings.
Thoughtfully designed steps add character to a garden, often becoming a focal point in their own right.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #gardendesign #gardensteps #legacylandscapes
From a pub garden to a kitchen garden. This one began as string lines and a plan on a cold winter’s day to a full summer vegetable garden, built around the millstone in Wiltshire.
Once the structure was in, the planting did the rest. Rows of vegetables sit alongside Dahlias, Calendula and Verbena, so the garden is as beautiful as it is productive, and the flowers bring in pollinators too.
A vegetable garden doesn’t have to be hidden away at the bottom of the garden. Designed well, it can be the very heart of it.
#RachaelWhiteDesigns #VegetableGarden #KitchenGarden #GardenDesign #Greenhouse
The same view at one of our Cotswold gardens, from the freshness of spring to the softer tones of late summer.
Wildflower garden rooms are the gift that keeps on giving. The fresh, light planting of spring gradually gives way to softer, more muted tones and layered textures, catching the lovely low sunlight of late summer.
There is so much versatility in these gardens. As the planting changes, it continues to provide food and wonderful shelter for wildlife, bringing life and purpose to the garden throughout the seasons.
That is the real beauty of a naturalistic approach: garden rooms that sit comfortably within the surrounding landscape, feeling completely at home while creating a usable destination within the wider garden scheme. As the year unfolds, they continue to shift in mood and character, offering something different at every stage.
#RachaelWhiteDesigns #NaturalisticPlanting #GardenDesign #WildflowerGarden #Biodiversity
Collaboration helps landscapes recover faster. 🌿
At @futurescapeevent we talked about healing scarred and over-used land, and how we, as an industry, can help people see the beauty in letting designs work with nature.
We can still edit, but with a lighter hand: that is the ‘new beautiful’. The best result should “feel as though it has always been there.”
Thank you to my fellow panellists, @frognalgardens @theconsciousgardeningco @wyevalenurseriesltd , to the local authorities support in funding, and to everyone else who joined us.
#FutureScape #TheNewBeautiful #LandscapeDesign #Biodiversity #RachaelWhiteDesigns
Tomorrow I’m joining a wonderful panel at @futurescapeevent to discuss how we can let nature lead the way and allow the landscape to evolve naturally. A scarred site isn’t the end of the story and with the right people in the room early, it can be the beginning of something richer. 🙏
#Futurescape #FromScarredToThriving #RachaelWhiteDesigns #LandscapeDesign #EcologicalDesign
Five years on…
We returned to the Roman Villa gardens this week to see how the landscape has evolved in the five years since we completed our work there.
Our team of highly skilled artisans laid the stonework the way the Roman farm workers would have laid it more than 1,600 years ago, and the farmyard drainage uses the original stonework. Despite this summer’s temperatures, the planting beds are thriving having been cared for beautifully by Ruby. No garden or landscape is ever truly finished and while the power of nature means the vista might change, its beauty is enduring.
Thank you to Ruby, Emily Estate and everyone at The Newt who made our day very special.
@thenewtinsomerset @stonewooddesign @stonewoodbuilders
@farmingtonmasonry #teamouting #thenewt #rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #romanvilla
Real craftsmanship speaks for itself.
Nothing in nature is the same height, shape or colour, and neither are these details.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #howwework #landscapedesi̇gn #detailsmatter #natureisunique
Root ball and bare root season are almost here… but we are waiting!
Ordinarily we would be thinking about getting some tree planting underway at this time of year. But after such a dry spell there simply isn’t enough moisture in the ground to give new trees their best start.
The classic British seasons we were taught to plant by our grandparents - and the neat rhythm of winter, spring, summer and autumn are changing and shortening - so our windows for planting are getting shorter too.
But gardening has always meant adapting, watching and responding to nature, however frustrating. So for now, we wait for the rain 🌧️
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #gardendesign #legacylandscapes #treeplanting
A garden should feel like it belongs where it is, not dropped into its surroundings but shaped by them.
Look beyond the boundaries, work with what’s already there and give the garden time to find its character. The best gardens aren’t built all in one go, they evolve, settle and become more beautiful with age.
That’s the magic of it.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #gardendesign #naturegarden #beyondboundaries
Echoes of Stone. We’re incredibly excited to share the beginnings of a new project…
Working with, rather than against, the landscape, we’re exploring how parts of a working quarry could be transformed over time into a nature-rich environment — a place for wildlife to thrive and for people to visit, wander and explore.
It’s still very early days but the possibilities feel enormous. Echoes of Stone is an opportunity to think differently about what we leave behind, how we work with the natural world and how places shaped by industry can have a new life.
It embodies so much of what we’ve been talking about lately: finding beauty in the unexpected, being more responsible with the landscapes we inhabit and imagining a future where nature, people and industry can coexist in more thoughtful ways.
There’s a long way to go but we’re excited to see where this takes us.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #legacylandscapes #biodiversity #environmentdesign
From open field to secluded Cotswold lake retreat—excavated boulders now a diving board and sun-warmed shore rocks.
One last summer swim, a little Sunday calm. Hope you find some too 💚
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesigner #lakesofinstagram #sundaycalm #weekend
What is the new beautiful?
As our climate changes, hotter, drier summers are going to become the norm. So do we have to start rethinking what we consider beautiful in our gardens and landscapes?
This is a question that’s flying round our office almost daily. And we are intrigued to know your thoughts.
The plants we have traditonally relied upon - from cottage garden favourites to thirst hungry perennials - aren’t always able to thrive in these new conditions. So perhaps it’s time to look at the survivors.
Designing gardens and landscapes for climate change could mean celebrating resilience, biodiversity and the plants that are already showing us the way.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments…
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #gardendesign #climatechange #thenewbeautiful
What a busy week it was at RWD last week! 🌿
We kicked things off with two site visits to Bristol and Dorset, before heading to the Natural History Museum for an inspiring look inside the story of “The New Evolution Garden.”
With guest speakers including Giles Heap of @cedstonelandscape, Simon and Darren helping to bring the geological story of the garden to life, alongside Noel Brook @bali_golandscape, and NHM Head Gardener Suzanne Patman, it was fascinating to hear how the garden showcases the incredible biodiversity of the UK — and how our landscapes have, and will continue to, adapt to a changing climate.
And we didn’t stop there…
We rounded off the week on site at an active quarry, capturing some content for an exciting new project that’s currently in the works. We can’t say too much just yet, but watch this space — more to come! 🪨📸
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #thenewbeautiful #busyweek #legacylandscapes #roomoflight #johncampbell
Thoughts from the Little Green Room for today 🌱
Design ideas are gathered over time - collected from places we have been, landscapes we have walked through, gardens we have admired, conversations we have had and moments that stay quietly with us.
All of these experiences sit together in a melting pot of imagination and collaboration with everyone on each project. That is what makes a garden truly bespoke.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #legacylandscapes #gardendesign #littlegreenroom
Water has a unique ability to transform a landscape.
It brings movement, light and a sense of calm reflecting the changing sky and surrounding planting to create depth and a feeling of vast space.
When thoughtfully designed it should not feel like an afterthought. It should feel as though it’s always been there.
And an added bonus? Who doesn’t love a wild swim!
#landscapedesign #rachaelwhitedesigns #naturallandscape #lakes #landscapearchitecture
A little bit of cosmos magic in the gardens this summer 🌸
What a lovely surprise it was to see these popping back up from seed I sowed last year! Cosmos are annuals, so perhaps it is down to the change in weather and our increasingly mild winters. Although I do also cover my vegetable beds with lambswool over winter, which keeps everything underneath lovely and cosy! [useful tip if you have access to sheep’s wool!]
Whatever the reason, I am certainly not complaining. There is something quite magical about walking within a sea of cosmos. They create a gorgeous kaleidoscope of colour, move beautifully in the breeze, when we get one, and are an absolute treat for the bees.
And one of the best things about cosmos? Keep deadheading them and they will reward you with more and more blooms, often carrying on right through the autumn until the first frost.
‘Here you come again’ Dolly 💚 hope these would make you smile.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #hereyoucomeagain #cosmos #landscapedesign #annuals
As we begin to soak up the last of the summer sun, it feels like the perfect time to think about how we use our outdoor spaces.
From dining areas and coffee corners to secluded benches, loungers and hammocks, each space should invite you to pause, relax and feel connected to nature.
I always say a garden should reflect the architecture, its natural surroundings and the way the interior of the house has been configured. Creating a space that feels considered but completely at home in its landscape.
But ultimately, a garden is there to be lived in, not just looked at — so take the time to sit, slow down and simply enjoy the spaces you’ve created.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #architectureanddesign #outdoorseating #outdoorspaces
Some more thoughts from the Little Green Room…
Mistakes in the garden aren’t failures—they’re experiments. 🌿
Every plant that doesn’t thrive, every combination that doesn’t quite work and every path you choose to change teaches you something valuable. The beauty of a garden is that it’s always evolving, giving you endless opportunities to learn, adapt and create something even better.
#RachaelWhiteDesigns #GardenDesign #landscapedesign #OutdoorLiving #planting
From our very first conversations to the finishing touches (and beyond) here at RWD, we manage every stage of your project, designing, planning, building, planting and keeping in touch long after the projects completion.
We work with the best team imaginable to ensure every detail is taken care of and we design landscapes that sit beautifully within their surroundings and feel as though they have always been there.
Here’s a little more information on how we work.
#rachaelwhitedesigns #howwework #landscapedesi̇gn #gardendesign #legacylandscapes
In this heatwave we are having, this is the perfect kind of arrangement. Simple, low maintenance and made up of elements that cope beautifully with the warmer temperatures.
Flower arrangements don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to be beautiful. Just a few carefully chosen grasses in a stem vase, can be all you need.
Sometimes simple really is beautiful ✨
#rachaelwhitedesigns #landscapedesign #gardendesign #simpleisbeautiful #flowerstyling
Reflecting on last week when we were out on site @farmingtonmasonry and @cotswoldsdistillery as we prepared for our panel @futurescapeevent
From the quarry where we explored the future potential of a working industrial landscape design, to the distillery, where our nature-led wetland system is already cleaning the wastewater on site. Both visits enforced one idea: industry and nature don’t have to compete. By unlocking hidden natural value within industrial landscapes we can create spaces that clean, educate and inspire.
Keep your eyes peeled for more details on our Futurescape panel in October.
@wyevalenurseriesltd @frognalgardens
#rachaelwhitedesigns #legacylandscapes #landscapedesign #naturerecovery #biodiversity
