Profile

Fiona Harrison Bsc. Hons MSGD
Bsc.Hons Horticulture Reading University. (1983)
Cert. Garden Design: Pershore College. (1987)
MSGD

Following a degree in Horticulture, specialising in design, I gained practical gardening experience as a student with the National Trust. Guided by their Head Gardener, I focused on the requirements of garden plants and their applications in many different planting schemes.

This was followed by a further garden design course at Pershore and then nearly ten years working for garden centre companies.
In this role I worked in various capacities, ranging from product buyer to Landscape Designer, in a team responsible for developing new sites and the establishment of a landscape design and build business. In 1992 I set up my own practice based in Virginia Water, Surrey . During this time I have also lectured in planting design for many years at the Oxford College of Garden Design.

Design Principles
I love gardens and the excitement that a well designed outdoor space can bring to people’s lives. Plants are the final decorative and structural element of a scheme but often the most important in producing an uplifting emotional response to a site – the ultimate sign of a successful project.

In addition to my specialism in plants, my approach to design seeks direction from three sources: the client’s personality and preferences, the architecture, and the nature of the site. The need to work with nature not against it, is vital to produce better environments for people, as well as for wildlife.
In successful schemes, plants and hard landscaping combine to fulfil a function and complement the setting .
Decorative elements beyond plants are important and I like to introduce art in the form of eg. sculpture, driftwood or a decorative pot and, where appropriate, use subtle lighting effects to highlight the garden at night.
The greatest achievement is to see a garden changing peoples lives in how they live outdoors, entertain and relax - often to see them become gardeners themselves!