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Commissioned to design brand new gardens and reimagine existing gardens, Rae's sensitive, naturalistic designs often include outdoor living spaces and features - swimming lakes and pools, outdoor gyms and play spaces, kitchen gardens and al fresco cooking and eating areas.
In addition to private residential projects, Rae also undertakes public realm commissions including sensory care gardens, and charity-sponsored show gardens.
With sustainable practice at the core of her approach to design, Rae creates bespoke designs that respond to her clients' individual aspirations and requirements, connecting each garden to its unique setting with inspired sensitivity – whatever the scale or nature of the project.
With over 25 years of experience designing and creating gardens and landscapes, Rae's deep knowledge and intuitive feel for horticulture and materials lead to the creation of beautiful, usable and sustainable outdoor spaces.
Rae is passionate about helping people make the most of their space and setting. “I believe in truly connecting people with their outdoor space. Beautiful gardens bring people outside where this extension of their living space can enable them to connect with nature,“ she says.
She brings her intuitive creativity and extensive practical knowledge of horticulture and materials to design gardens that will evolve as they become established. Her early training in Art and Design and her experience in environmental conservation and sustainability are fundamental to her approach.
Rae values the restorative power of plants and gardens, bringing a philosophy of spiritual wellbeing to each commissioned project.
She was awarded a silver-gilt medal for her Healing Urban Garden (HUG) at RHS Hampton Court Flower show which was also one of English Garden Magazine's top picks of the show.
Rae has created gardens and trade stands at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and been involved with other award-winning gardens.
Her most recent success was receiving the award for Best Planting Design under £25,000 in Pro Landscape Magazine's small project BIG IMPACT awards 2022.
Rae monitors and consults through the entire process and is 'hands-on' with every aspect from the initial consultation to completion. She will design and oversee all elements of a scheme from hard landscaping to planting schemes, along with site-specific, bespoke features such as seating, planters, water features and other architectural elements including decking, living walls, terraces and garden lighting.
From the outset, open and clear communication between designer, client and all involved in the project is hugely important for successful outcomes – Rae is committed to establishing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with the team of professional contractors, planters and artisans who collaborate in the creation of her garden and landscape designs.
To learn more about commissioning Rae, and the fees and processes involved, please get in touch.
Below: Rae Wilkinson with two members of the team who collaborated in the creation of her award-winning Healing Urban Garden at RHS Hampton Court - Alun Heslop furniture sculptor, and Tecwyn Evans of Living Landscapes.
If you have a new garden project, or would like to explore exciting new possibilities for your existing garden, get in touch with Rae to book a consultation.
If you're not quite ready but would like to keep in touch, you can follow Rae on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
As a sustainable practice and in response to the ongoing Covid situation, Rae offers video calls as an option alongside meetings on site. To book a Zoom consultation please get in touch - Rae would love to meet you!
