Lighting

Whilst the lighting of gardens can be functional, it can also bring beauty, mystery and drama to the garden, and extend the time that you can spend there.

Care should be taken not to add too many lights, use lights that point downwards and only light up a small area and for the shortest time. You can still create an ambience with certain features highlighted e.g. a pergola, feature or path, without causing too much light pollution. Avoid lighting up a large area especially if this is left on for several hours. New research has shown that this negatively affects both wildlife and people, disrupting nesting and breeding cycles and generally disorienting wildlife, and disrupting sleep in humans. If you would like some lighting for security keep it low down on the wall, low energy and on a motion sensor.

Lamps come in a wide variety of beam angles and strengths, and there are many low energy options available now also, so whatever you want to light, there will be a lighting solution available.

Here is a sample of the effects you can create:

Uplighting an interesting tree, for example, an Acer to show off its branch structure.
Using a spike spotlight to highlight a statue or water feature.
If you have an area of open water with a strong architectural structure next to it, this could be mirrored in the water.
A structural plant e.g. a phormium could be silhouetted against a wall.
A pergola or arch could be lit by downlighters and uplighters for a romantic feel.
Lamps could be set in trees to light a path below. This is called moonlighting.
Steps in the garden could be lit using adjacent spreadlights or steplights set into the masonry.
Underwater lights can be used in a pool to give a variety of effects.
A path or driveway could be lit for safety or ambience.

Lighting is best considered at the design stage of a garden project so that cables can be laid under the hard landscaping during construction.

“We were really impressed with the design service offered by Jayne. Jayne was able to take our initial brief and translate this into a stunning contemporary design that really made the most of the small space we had and provided a great backdrop to our new kitchen extension. The combination of hard landscaping and planting have completely transformed the garden. Over several meetings she was able to communicate the concepts and hone the design and even sample materials. She then recommended and then liaised with the landscaper to ensure the implementation went to plan before completing the final planting.”

Mrs Fenner

Marston Moretaine

"I found Jayne to be very friendly and pleasant to work with. The design is lovely - very attractive. I was impressed with Jayne's willingness to adapt to and take account of our cost constraints and likes and dislikes regarding plants. All work was carried out efficiently and pleasantly. Jayne was always ready to discuss and advise about design and plants and has transformed a boring and rather difficult small garden into an interesting area which will only improve as the plants grow and mature."

Mr & Mrs Barwell

Welwyn Garden City

We love our garden now. Our two dogs had pretty much destroyed it and it had become an embarrassment. We never used it, not even just for ourselves. It now has structure and a proper patio area and is always good to look at even in this bleak weather!

This will be our second spring with it and I'm really looking forward to seeing everything grows again and how it will change this year.

Mr & Mrs Crooke

Flitton

Jayne was always totally reliable, whether coming out to look at the garden or providing plans and ideas, and is a very knowledgeable plantswoman.

She had a good understanding of what I wanted to do with the garden, and always listened to my ideas and then made suggestions that were appropriate to the location and aspect.

Mr & Mrs Townsend

Houghton Conquest

Jayne's ideas of how to transform a long straight garden into something more interesting were quite inspirational. By introducing shape and perspective the garden now has structure.

The planting plan she suggested has added interest and constant colour which changes with the season.

Needless to say we are delighted.

Mr & Mrs Collier

Pulloxhill

We were delighted with Jayne's approach to our garden and her understanding of what we were trying to achieve.

Her knowledge of plants and what will actually work is fantastic.

Three years on we are still delighted with our garden.

Mr & Mrs Bryant

Pulloxhill

Jayne has a real passion for gardening and her knowledge of plants is highly impressive. She seems to know exactly which plant will thrive in a particular part of the garden - sunny, shady, soil type and so on. She also thinks about the proportions and overall effect.

To work with, she is extremely flexible and happy to give you just the bits of advice or help you need.

Mel Henson