Whether creating brand new gardens or reimagining existing gardens, Rae's sensitive, naturalistic designs often include multi use outdoor living spaces and features such as outdoor kitchen and kitchen gardens, entertainment spaces, swimming lakes and pools, outdoor gyms and play spaces, parterres, orchards and meadows.
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.
Rae is passionate about helping people make the most of their space and setting. As Rae says, "I believe in truly connecting people with their outdoor space. Beautiful gardens bring real joy and bring people outside where this extension of their living space can enable them to unwind and connect with nature."
She brings her intuitive creativity and extensive practical knowledge of horticulture and materials to design gardens that will evolve well 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 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 as a planting consultant over a number of years.
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 and being shortlisted in the Pro Landscaper Sustainability and Biodiversity Awards.
Rae designs, monitors and consults throughout the entire process from the initial consultation to completion. She can 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, outdoor fire places and garden lighting.
Rae is committed to establishing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with professional contractors, suppliers, growers and artisans who collaborate in the creation of beautiful gardens for clients.
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 flexible to client needs Rae offers video calls as an option alongside meetings on site. To book a site or Zoom consultation please get in touch.
