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 MSGLD is an acknowledged horticultural expert and celebrated garden and landscape designer. She blends informed design experience with inspired planting to produce gardens that provide immediate joy and also beautifully evolve as they become established.

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

After leaving college, she worked in environmental conservation and then as a landscaper working alongside some acclaimed landscape and garden designers in the UK and abroad and setting up her own soft landscaping firm with an all-women team.

Her continuing passion for planting and design led her to train as a Garden and Landscape Designer receiving her Diploma in 2007 at Distinction level from Merrist Wood College under the tutelage 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 on the renowned Knepp Estate, Rae 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 + Landscape Designers – Fully Registered (MSGLD)
The British Association of Landscape Industries – Accredited (BALI)
Chartered Institute of Horticulture – Member (MCIHort)



Get in touch with Rae

Rae Wilkinson MSGLD 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 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.