About Karen
Saved by Nature
I didn't discover my gardening genes until quite late in life. It was only after a 4 year secondment living in the concrete jungle of HK as a commercial lawyer did I discover my passion for all things green and beautiful. The bug bit me hard upon my return to London. Evening classes at Capel Manor studying for RHS Level 2 whilst still in the corporate rat race confirmed there was no looking back. I quit my senior legal job in 2016 to complete an intensive 6 month Planting Design Diploma at the London College of Garden Design based at Kew Gardens and set up my own business. I have been literally smelling the roses ever since. I am currently based in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire having recently moved here with my husband from Highgate, North London.
what i do
My speciality is planting design and garden renovations (from clearance to re-design to sourcing plants and planting) but I love gardening so have a few gardens I regularly maintain and refresh through the year. I usually work on my own but bring in people who have the necessary expertise/machinery (to cut grass, hedges etc.,) or muscle as needed. I have worked with landscapers/building contractors on larger projects. Some of my clients like to garden with me and I encourage everyone to do what they enjoy/can!
No job is too small. Some of my greatest satisfaction derives from seeing the joy a small garden revival gives to its owner - sometimes it just takes a few new plants and a bit of love and care to bring a new lease of life to a tired garden - it is not always about ripping it all out and spending lots of money on landscaping. I am a keen supporter of more sustainable ways of nurturing our environment and encouraging community gardening.
Feel free to drop me a line to have a chat to discuss whether I can help with your garden - however, small or large.