Creative vision
and expertise

Rae Wilkinson (Rachel Conibear) at RHS Hampton Court Palace Show Garden. Rae Wilkinson Garden and Landscape Design - Garden Designer Sussex, Surrey, London, South-East England
Rae Wilkinson Garden and Landscape Design - Garden Designer Sussex, Surrey, London, South-East England


Creating landscapes involves harnessing the beauty of nature to awaken the senses and enliven the spirit...

Portrait of Rae Wilkinson (Rachel Conibear). Rae Wilkinson Garden and Landscape Design Surrey, Sussex, London, South-East England
Rae Wilkinson MSGD is an acknowledged horticultural expert and celebrated garden and landscape designer. She blends informed design experience with inspired planting to produce gardens that beautifully evolve as they become established.

Her love of plants and appreciation of gardens began in early childhood, cultivating corners of her parents’ and grandfather’s gardens, and through visits to the local churchyard to sit under the trees and admire the roses.

She studied Art and Three Dimensional design in Brighton gaining a BA (Hons) Degree along with a strong foundation and understanding of composition, form, structure and materials that continue to inform all her garden designs.

Leaving college, she worked for a time in environmental conservation and then as a landscaper working alongside several acclaimed landscape and garden designers in the UK and abroad before setting up her own soft landscaping firm, originally with an all-women team.

Her continuing passion for planting and design led her to additionally train and qualify as a Garden and Landscape Designer receiving her Diploma in 2007 from Merrist Wood College under the tutelage and guidance of renowned author, RHS judge and garden designer Andrew Wilson, founder of the London College of Garden Design at The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Through planting for other designers at the Royal Horticultural Society shows, Rae gained experience of the intense process involved in designing and building show gardens, subsequently accepting commissions and delivering her own award-winning show gardens.

From her West Sussex studio, Rae Wilkinson has now completed numerous varied private and public gardens and landscapes for satisfied clients throughout Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, London, South-East England and further afield.

quote marks. Rae Wilkinson Garden and Landscape Design - Garden Designer Surrey, Sussex, London, South-East England
Rae’s attention to structure, form, sustainability, texture, colour and vistas combine to invoke joy, tranquillity and positivity – sensibilities that owners, users and visitors can delight in time after time as her gardens grow.

Professional expertise

An acknowledged expert in horticulture and garden design, Rae has received a number of high profile awards and is frequently the subject of press and broadcast interviews.

She is often invited to contribute her insights, experience and professional expertise alongside other design professionals in panel discussions and events, and to industry magazines and the mainstream press.

Rae Wilkinson (Rachel Conibear) contributes to garden design panel discussion with other experts. Rae Wilkinson Garden and Landscape Design - Garden Designer Surrey, Sussex, London, South-East England

Rae is also in demand as an accomplished and published photographer – most of the images in this website are her work and more can be found on her Instagram page.

Rae Wilkinson is a registered member of:
The Society of Garden Designers – Fully Registered (MSGD)
The British Association of Landscape Industries – Accredited (BALI)
Chartered Institute of Horticulture – Member (MCIHort)



Get in touch with Rae

Rae Wilkinson MSGD creates gardens in Surrey, Sussex, London and thoughout the south-east, but will also consider projects further afield.

If you have a new garden design 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 in-person site meetings. To book a Zoom consultation please get in touch - Rae would love to meet you!