creating gardens that make life feel better with biodiversity, aesthetics and wellbeing in mind
About
Zoe Slater is the founder of Design Botanical.
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Zoe's guiding principle at Design Botanical is to create beautiful outdoor spaces helping clients to make the most of their gardens and improve their relationship with nature.
Her love of design, horticulture, the natural environment and people are brought together within the collaborative design process to shape outdoor spaces that harmoniously fit with her client’s lifestyle and personal needs.
This pragmatic approach enables Zoe to create an emotional link between the client and their garden which in turn enhances their day to day lives.​
Experience and qualifications
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Garden Design Diploma - Distinction - The English Gardening School
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BSc (hons) Biological Sciences (Environmental) - The University of Birmingham
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6 months of volunteering in the Arboretum at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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A member of 4 different planting teams for medal-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
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Services
Design Botanical is known for creating beautiful, relaxed outdoor spaces that allow our clients to reconnect with nature. All our projects are undertaken with passion, skill and expertise, and with a variety of services available, clients have many options when it comes to the creation of their outdoor space.​
​We work on a wide range of projects from large commercial and residential schemes to smaller planting projects. Please contact us to discuss the creation of your ideal outdoor space.
Garden Design
We believe in designing spaces that are as beautiful as they are functional with the client at the heart of every design. Our intention is to create beautiful gardens that enhance your connection with nature and give year-round enjoyment of your grown environment.
Hard Landscaping
From earth moving to designing and installing bespoke pergolas, paths and so much more, we will bring the expertise and effort required to create the features that provide beauty and functionality to your outdoor space. Composing intentional views and comfortable places to relax and socialise whilst using a light touch where necessary to increase biodiversity.
Planting
Planting is our passion. We look for plants to add structure, drama, colour and light to our garden designs. Using our knowledge, we plant species that will thrive in their situation and select combinations that will encourage increased biodiversity within your garden and local area. We also plant with our clients' preferred maintenance and aftercare in mind too.
Our approach
Every project starts with a discussion. Contact us today to outline your vision for your garden and we can start working towards your ideal design.
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The following steps outline the way we work and the ideas and phases of work that we will address along the way.
Meeting
Either on site or in person, we will discuss your vision and goals for your garden. Following this meeting, we will develop and share our ideas on how to move forward with developing your garden design.
Developing your design
Following your decision to start work, we will visit the site to take soil samples and understand the opportunities and challenges of your garden. We might use sketches, layout plans, mood boards and example planting plans to estimate costs and timings for a number of design outcomes.
Refining your plan
With your agreed design in place, we will move onto specifying all the details of your project. This will include a master plan and possibly construction drawings, lighting plans and a detailed planting plan - depending on the nature and scope of the project. We have extensive knowledge of innovative, environmentally friendly products to support the health and water management of your garden. Similarly, we source plants that will support the health and biodiversity of your garden as well as providing interest, structure and originality.
Building & planting
We will project manage the build and planting of your garden from start to finish. You may also choose your preferred tradespeople for specific aspects of the project. We would clarify our project management role accordingly.
Aftercare
It's not uncommon for clients to develop a much keener connection to their garden on completion of their project. At the same time, gardens take time to grow into their full potential, and require seasonal maintenance to remain at their best. We offer an aftercare agreement where we visit your garden twice a year to review the garden and provide seasonal gardening recommendations, for example bulb planting. Many clients continue to invest in their gardens by employing a gardener to sustain the overall planting design and help the garden to evolve throughout the years. At this stage we are able to help you find a suitable gardener and liaise with them on your behalf.
Your investment, our fees
Taking the decision to invest in your garden will allow you to reap the immediate benefits of enjoying your personal outdoor space. Creating a calm space for you and your family to connect with nature and escape the hectic world outside is incredibly beneficial to our lives. In addition, your new garden will add value and marketability to your home in the event you ever choose to move somewhere new. Our project and fee proposals will address all the relevant aspects of our service, including design, project management and sourcing of plants and supplies. Our fees are guided by the Society of Garden Designers. Our approach is to be open and transparent about our costs and our professional fees. If you have a budget in mind, we encourage you to share this with us so that we can work towards achieving your garden goals within this consideration.