We believe that, regardless of budget or the space available, everybody can have a beautiful garden that adds richness to their life and perfectly suits their lifestyle. So for the last 20 years we've designed more than 1000 gardens of all shapes and sizes, bringing to life the dreams of thousands of people.

We've:

• Worked with national newspapers and major gardening magazines
• Trained hundreds of people in the art of Garden Design and horticulture
• Designed and built gardens at major flower shows in Britain and America

We've won Three Gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show and one at the New England Spring Flower Show, as well as five Chelsea Silver Gilts.

Your garden is a very personal thing, and we think it's important that you find designers you can trust to interpret your ideas into something truly inspring. For that reason we like to spend some time with the people we work for, to make sure we really understand what you're looking for and that you're comfortable with us too.

Meet the team

Stewart Knight

I studied for three years at Pershore College of Horticulture before moving to Columbus, Ohio to work in garden construction.
During the late nineties I came home and worked for landscape companies, building gardens across London and the Home Counties before joining the Garden Design Centre as a partner in 2001.
I like to spend time with my wife and two children, enjoy playing golf and following the marvellous West Ham United.

Ian Shooter

I studied horticulture at Oaklands 1982-85, then worked in the nursery and landscape industries until I founded The Garden Design Centre in Stevenage in 1990.
I have an interest in all things rural, and a passion for growing vegetables and breeding chickens.
I love sport, but still support Stevenage Boro FC!

Pauline Cooke

I've always had a love for plants and gardening, and worked in the local garden centre while I was still at school.
Later I worked at Roger Harvey Garden World in Stevenage while studying Horticulture at Hadlow College, Kent.
I was Assistant Garden Centre Manager when I met Ian in 1992, and left to become a partner in The Garden Design Centre.
I have a large menagerie at home, and breed and show Welsh ponies.
I too love sport, and support Chelsea, which gives me more occasion to smile than the others!