I’m a garden designer based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. I offer a full-service garden design consultancy, covering garden design, construction management and planting. From new-build gardens to courtyard gardens and family gardens with animal enclosures to planting schemes. I work collaboratively with clients to provide them with their perfect garden.
The time had arrived for this client to have a more “Grown up” garden. Their children had outgrown the play equipment and they now wanted a space for them to enjoy the wonderful views and have a more useable and accessible garden from their newly renovated house. A pergola was also installed to create some shade as the garden is south facing.
Lush planting and several fruit trees were also added so my client could grow their own apples, pears and cherries for home baking. A timed, drip-line irrigation system was installed and garden lighting added to enhance the trees and planting.
Landscaping
Charles Green Garden Landscapes
New images
Emma Stow Photography
This garden in Warlingham, Surrey was a total overhaul. When they first moved moved in, the garden which had become too big for the previous owner to manage, needed some serious attention. The old swimming pool had become a pond and an old timber garage and oil tank had to be removed.
A 15m x 5m garden room/gym/office/leisure space was installed first and then the garden was constructed including and deck space with a hot tub and break out seating area. A dining space with outdoor kitchen. Lots of lawn space for their growing family to play in and a kids play area with climbing frame.
Landscaping
Charles Green Garden Landscapes
New images
Emma Stow Photography
“Ben took our fairly loose brief of a ‘wildlife-friendly’ garden with an allotment area and a social space, plus our various garden likes and dislikes, and drew up two alternative sketch designs. Taking the bits we liked best from both designs, he then created the final plan which he presented as a 3D CAD animation. This really gave us a good indication of how the garden was going to look.
We followed through to the next stage of the process, contracting the landscaper recommended by Ben, who did an excellent job of turning the design into a reality. Ben produced a planting plan for our new garden and sourced and planted hedging, trees and beds of perennials.
Nine months on from our initial meeting, our garden has been transformed from a bit of bad lawn, with a few plants and a large neglected area of brambles, to an eye-catching, multi-functional space, with a vegetable growing area, a mini-orchard, lots of planting beds and a stunning pergola and dining area.
Throughout the process, Ben always remained available; he was very responsive and helpful, sourcing samples of materials, for example, and accompanying us to the nursery to help select trees.
We are delighted with our garden and would thoroughly recommend his services.”
Deborah & Stuart, Chipstead
Landscaping
Charles Green Garden Landscapes
New images
Emma Stow Photography
“Thanks to Ben our garden is now usable for the whole family.
We have quite a large, but previously overwhelming & sloped space which didn’t seem to allow us to use it to its potential.
Ben helped us see the way through a daunting project from start to finish. He was very reassuring, helpful and patient. We didn’t feel rushed and along the way he went at the pace we needed or set ourselves.
He answered all our many questions and was often available at short notice to respond to queries or help us with plans.
Now we have a space we can all enjoy and we look forward to watching it change over the seasons and years.
Thanks Ben!”
Mike & Sue, Langton Green
New images
Emma Stow Photography
“Ben & his team made such an amazing job of our garden make over! We had an idea in our heads of what we wanted and Ben made that a reality. He took our ideas, and along with his expert knowledge & input, it turned out better than we could have imagined! Highly professional from the very first point of contact and we would definitely recommend him!”
Mr & Mrs Redfern, Tunbridge Wells
Landscaping
Charles Green Garden Landscapes
New images
Emma Stow Photography
A family garden, built for entertaining , relaxing and cooking. The existing patio was kept, so this was a case of making separate break out areas to catch the sun/shade at different times of the day.
A fabulous garden kitchen was installed by Grillo, under the overhang of the house - who wants to cook in blazing hot summer sunshine?
Finally, we revamped the planting at the front of the house to give some fresh colour, texture and a focal point Olive Tree in a beautiful clay planter.
Landscaping
Gavin Scott-Lyons
New images
Emma Stow Photography
A garden to play football in, play basketball, cool off, chase the cat, swing, climb, slide, play table tennis, work, store and then maybe a bit of relaxing too…This garden had to work on so many different levels and there was even space for some planting and new trees - how long they’ll survive with balls flying everywhere nobody knows…but so far, so good.
The brief was to make the garden fully wheelchair accessible, provide plenty of storage, an area for a relaxation spa pool, a space for play and a space to relax in. Planting should also be easy to maintain and sensual.
“We’re very pleased with the service we have received from Ben Martin Garden Design, from the first consultation through to the project’s completion. Ben took the time to understand what we wanted to achieve with the garden, in particular in making the garden wheelchair-accessible for our disabled son. The finished garden is even better than we’d hoped for!”
David Motton and Jennie Batchelor
Alongside Design, I also oversee and work on the development of a few gardens. This one is for a family with young children and we’ve taken time over the years gently developing the garden. Sympathetically removing a few things, but also enhancing views both in the garden and from the house. We’ve encouraged more wildlife to visit and we leave areas of grass to grow adding interest, texture and colour as you walk through the space.
Last year, for a special birthday party we mowed a large 40 into the front lawn - each number was 10m x 10m. Watch this space for further developments as we go…
Images
Emma Stow Photography
When you have a design you’re happy with for your garden, I’ll draw the final design in CAD Design software so you can view your garden in 3D, 360 degrees.
