Frequently Asked Questions

What type and size of gardens do you design?

We design any size garden, large or small, from city courtyards to large countryside gardens and everything in between.

When is the best time to get your garden designed?

We design gardens throughout the year. With the process from initial contact to completed garden taking several months, embarking on the process sooner rather than later is usually beneficial, particularly if you have a completion date in mind. Landscape contractors will often be booked up months in advance. On completion of the design package we are able to finalise a quotation and scheduling with the chosen contractor.

How long will it take for my garden to be designed?

Approximately a six weeks process which includes, consultations and site survey, design development to arrive at a concept plan set of documents, this is followed by the masterplanning and specification stage and final sign-off.

How long does it take to build a garden?

Small and medium sized gardens take approximately between 4-8 weeks. Larger gardens 12 weeks or more. Build duration is dependent on size and complexity of the project.

How much does a garden build cost?

As an approximate guide small gardens tend to fall in the region of £20-35,000, medium-sized gardens or those more heavily constructed £30,000-£50,000. Large gardens start from around £50,000. These are loose indications as it is project specific and dependent on access, complexity of the build and size of garden.

Why employ a garden designer?

Garden designers are trained professionals that draw on their knowledge and qualifications to design a garden that brings your brief to life. With objective eyes, they’ll propose creative design solutions that you wouldn’t of considered yourself. A well designed and built garden is a long-term investment adding value to your property.

The design and build of gardens is a challenging process drawing on technical expertise to produce detailedconstruction drawings and specification and skilled landscape contractors to implement them. A garden designer will monitor the build stage, navigating any issues that may arise. They’ll work with the landscapers through to final completion of the garden.

“Working with Claire has definitely been my best decision of 2022/2023 – looking out at our incredible, beautifully designed tiny garden makes me smile every day.”

Alison Hicks

“We had an absolutely fantastic experience using Iron Butterfly Design. The final result is stunning, we absolutely love our new back and front gardens. The design was so creative and came up with something we would never have thought of ourselves.”

Sarah Nadin

“Claire of Iron Butterfly Design has created a perfect space for a pair of hard-working non gardeners! Claire worked hard to create a garden with interesting spaces & textures in a small plot.”

lindsey prescott-mears