Here are a range of the types of drawings we can supply our clients and contractors with. As regards the actual design process, please read on below. It is important to us to be as transparent as possible regarding process and fees, and good communication is key to the success of every project.
The Design Process
If you have never had a garden designed for you before, you are probably wondering how the process works and, of course, how much it will cost.
Whist all projects are different, the typical stages of the design process are:
Whist all projects are different, the typical stages of the design process are:
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If you feel the full design package is not for you we also offer a Consultation Service and/or Planting Design service, tailored to your specific needs, such as advising on problem areas or restoring “lost” planting beds.
Whatever your requirements, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us to sound us out. We pride ourselves on our approachability and sympathetic style and aim to make designing your garden an enjoyable process for all concerned.
In the meantime, to get you thinking about how you might wish to proceed, here is some more information on the design stages suggested above:
Whatever your requirements, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us to sound us out. We pride ourselves on our approachability and sympathetic style and aim to make designing your garden an enjoyable process for all concerned.
In the meantime, to get you thinking about how you might wish to proceed, here is some more information on the design stages suggested above:
Initial Visit & Design Brief
This is free of charge within a radius of about 20 miles of Heathfield. For greater distances we reserve the right to charge a contribution to travel expenses, but this would be confirmed prior to the visit.
The purpose of this visit (usually about 2 hours) is:
The purpose of this visit (usually about 2 hours) is:
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From this no obligation visit, if you wish to proceed, we are then able to go away and prepare the Design Brief for you, which will confirm our understanding of your requirements, and our Fee Proposal for the next agreed stage, e.g. the Outline Design.
Outline Design
Fees for an Outline Design (also known as a Concept Design) will vary according to the size and complexity of the site, but would start from £900. Once the Design Brief and initial Fee Proposal are agreed, we are then able to begin the exciting stuff and work on producing an Outline Design for you.
This stage will include:
* For large or complex sites a full survey may be required, which we can arrange for you (this will be billed separately by the surveyors).
For some clients, the Outline Design is all they require, as they prefer to work from this to create their garden in their own time. However, this will not usually be sufficient for a contractors' purposes, as they will need more detailed drawings/information to enable them to quote for you and to build from.
If required, we can provide a range of ongoing services as outlined below, to suit your needs. For each stage, as with the Outline Design, we would prepare a Fee Proposal for you, to be agreed in advance.
This stage will include:
- a further site visit and client discussion if required;
- a basic survey of measurements and levels if we are able to do this ourselves; *
- our work on design ideas; we work with a mix of drawing board, CAD, 3d models, sketches etc, as appropriate;
- production of an Outline Plan and Sketches, to enable you to visualise our design, together with suggestions for Planting and Materials (Image Boards) to present and discuss with you.
* For large or complex sites a full survey may be required, which we can arrange for you (this will be billed separately by the surveyors).
For some clients, the Outline Design is all they require, as they prefer to work from this to create their garden in their own time. However, this will not usually be sufficient for a contractors' purposes, as they will need more detailed drawings/information to enable them to quote for you and to build from.
If required, we can provide a range of ongoing services as outlined below, to suit your needs. For each stage, as with the Outline Design, we would prepare a Fee Proposal for you, to be agreed in advance.
Detailed drawings for Contractors *
If required, we can produce detailed drawings for parts or the whole of the agreed design, from which contractors would then be able to quote.
At the very least these would include dimensioned drawings and setting out plans, but more detailed construction detailing may also be required.
We can also arrange for specialist input such as lighting designers or water experts according to the complexity of the design.
At the very least these would include dimensioned drawings and setting out plans, but more detailed construction detailing may also be required.
We can also arrange for specialist input such as lighting designers or water experts according to the complexity of the design.
* Identifying suitable Contractors
We work with a range of trusted contractors and it is often useful to invite them on site at an early stage, to identify any particular issues which need to be addressed. You may wish to select or appoint your own favoured contractor, but if not, we can suggest who we feel would be suited to your project. Either way we can liaise with them to provide the information they require to prepare a quote for you. This stage would usually be charged at an hourly rate.
If you prefer to get a range of quotes we can manage the tender process for you, but please be aware that this may add a further layer of costs to the project.
If you prefer to get a range of quotes we can manage the tender process for you, but please be aware that this may add a further layer of costs to the project.
Planting Plans
We can design detailed scale planting plans for parts or the whole of the agreed design, or for areas of your existing garden. We can also source the plants from trusted and reputable nurseries for you, including those grown in peat-free compost if this is important to you.
Once the time comes, we prefer to set out the plants ourselves, and the planting can then be completed either by your contractor or by our own team, depending on scale and availability.
Generally planting is best done in autumn or spring.
Once the time comes, we prefer to set out the plants ourselves, and the planting can then be completed either by your contractor or by our own team, depending on scale and availability.
Generally planting is best done in autumn or spring.
Project Monitoring
Once you have appointed a contractor, although they would be working directly for you, we can assist with monitoring the project to ensure our design is implemented as intended and everything is kept on track.
Maintenance Plans
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The enduring success of your completed garden design then rests with the ongoing maintenance and care it is given. If you are unsure, we can provide you and/or your gardener with a comprehensive maintenance schedule to keep it looking tip top and we can make return visits on a regular basis to advise as the garden matures.
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Although one cannot always avoid unexpected “surprises” once work commences, we aim to keep our own fees transparent and will always discuss with you any issues arising which may impact the cost or the time frame of the project at the earliest possible opportunity.
For further guidance on what to expect from the process and our code of conduct, please visit www.sgd.org.uk.
For further guidance on what to expect from the process and our code of conduct, please visit www.sgd.org.uk.
Little Badgers, Possingworth Park, Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex, TN21 0TN
T: 01435 863311 Francesca Mob: 07846 671008 Emma Mob: 07837 948382
E: [email protected]
T: 01435 863311 Francesca Mob: 07846 671008 Emma Mob: 07837 948382
E: [email protected]
