18 February 2020
No damage here from the recent storms, but it has felt a bit apocalyptic and a reminder of what lies ahead as the climate crisis deepens. It helps to get out of 'tidy gardener' mentality, and remember that nature heals itself when we get out of the way, and in fact, all our native flora and fauna co-evolved with big destructive mega fauna like mammoths, so thrives on dead wood and rough treatment. Nature on the whole isn't smooth or neat, it is...
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10 January 2020
These pictures were mailed to me by a very happy client - the last one is a 'before' shot and you can see there has been a transformation. Initially my client was unsure about the large pond, but as you can see from the photos, it is already a wonderful feature, with the dramatic boardwalk, overhanging deck and oak gazebo. I love the way a body of water brings the sky down into the garden, and creates stunning reflections. In the Spring, the...
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18 December 2019
Chameleon Design is delighted to have been appointed to redesign a garden for the use of a wheelchair bound client who suffered severe brain injury in a road traffic accident. This is a project I feel very strongly about as it embodies my values and beliefs that gardens can be nurturing, restorative spaces which help people connect to nature. The existing garden is bland and uninviting , as well as being virtually inaccessible without...
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18 December 2019
Happy clients make it all worthwhile! We received this thoughtful and glowing testimonial this week:
“We had a pretty dreadful garden and wanted a garden make-over but with few firm ideas and no knowledge of how to realise it. In the design phase Rose carefully listened to our considerations and respected them, but at the same time frequently suggested new and better ideas. She conceived some stunning plans and as a result of seeing these...
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26 April 2019
Over Easter I spent a couple of inspirational and restorative days visiting The Knepp wilding project in Sussex - see https://knepp.co.uk/. Such an exciting place, and so uplifting to see wildlife bouncing back here in defiance of the sad declines we see and hear about all around. The air was full of birdsong - warblers like blackcaps, whitethroat, garden warbler, chiffchaff and glorious nightingales, exultant in the rich mosaic of sallow scrub,...
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