Gardens & Projects
Every garden has its own character, shaped by its setting, its history and the people who live there.
Over more than twenty-five years, I have designed, restored and managed gardens throughout Northumberland and the surrounding Borders, from private country estates and traditional walled gardens to contemporary coastal spaces, town gardens and intimate courtyards.
My approach is always led by the individual site. Existing architecture, views, climate, soil, mature planting and the wider landscape all help inform the design, alongside how the owners want to live in and enjoy their garden.
Some projects begin as completely blank spaces. Others are established gardens that need careful restoration, new structure or a fresh approach to planting. I work with both, combining strong design with naturalistic planting and thoughtful details that allow each garden to develop its own identity over time.
Explore the Gardens
Below is a growing collection of gardens I have been fortunate enough to work on.
Each has its own story, from the original brief and challenges of the site through to the planting, materials and decisions that helped shape the finished garden.
Gardens Designed for Their Setting
No two gardens should ever be identical.
From the exposed coastal conditions at Sandbank in Spittal to the established landscape of Tillmouth Farm and the long-term restoration and development of Northumberland estate gardens, every project requires a different response.
I particularly enjoy creating structure within gardens, developing distinct garden rooms and combining established features with new planting so that the garden feels connected to both its surroundings and its history.
Client Reviews
“Looks so established already.”
— Dinah Iredale, following the first season of a complete garden design and build.
“I can’t thank you enough, the garden looks amazing.”
— Jaqueline Binnie, Tillmouth Farm
“Thank you for all you do… we really enjoy the garden.”
— Governors Garden Residents
About Clare
I’m Clare Ryan, a garden designer and project manager with more than twenty-five years of practical experience in garden design, restoration, planting and garden management.
My route into garden design has been shaped by a lifelong fascination with the natural world, landscape and the way places evolve. Today, my focus is increasingly on garden design and project management, bringing together ideas, planting, materials and trusted specialist contractors to create gardens that are individual to both their setting and their owners.
