Gardens and green spaces are at the vanguard of positive change. They are modern-day crucibles for ideas and innovation that are providing solutions to some of our most persistent problems, whether loneliness or illness, flooding or drought. Around the world, green-fingered thinkers and pioneering plants-people are harnessing the power of the wild to quietly find small-scale strategies to reverse these ills.
It’s no longer just about aesthetics, but about what the great outdoors can do – save water, transform mental health, bridge social divides, educate vulnerable children, reimagine polluting industries and provide much reason for optimism in a rapidly changing world. Celebrating both the garden and gardener as integral players in a healthier future this book presents a series of strategies that will help the reader reevaluate the potential that lies in green spaces near them by looking at how they have been applied in gardens around the world.
Sixty-five projects demonstrate how gardens can repair, heal, empower, nourish and reimagine, whilst an easy-to-read coloured code links each project to others in the book that solve a similar problem, whether soil health, education or pollution. Profiles of ten Green Thinkers dotted throughout delve more deeply into the inspiring work that these pioneers are leading. A glossary of plants, materials and techniques at the back of book encourages readers to apply the lessons learnt in their own garden, be that a windowsill or an acre.
It’s no longer just about aesthetics, but about what the great outdoors can do – save water, transform mental health, bridge social divides, educate vulnerable children, reimagine polluting industries and provide much reason for optimism in a rapidly changing world. Celebrating both the garden and gardener as integral players in a healthier future this book presents a series of strategies that will help the reader reevaluate the potential that lies in green spaces near them by looking at how they have been applied in gardens around the world.
Sixty-five projects demonstrate how gardens can repair, heal, empower, nourish and reimagine, whilst an easy-to-read coloured code links each project to others in the book that solve a similar problem, whether soil health, education or pollution. Profiles of ten Green Thinkers dotted throughout delve more deeply into the inspiring work that these pioneers are leading. A glossary of plants, materials and techniques at the back of book encourages readers to apply the lessons learnt in their own garden, be that a windowsill or an acre.
Lottie Delamain
DirectorLottie started working life in textile design and spent six years living and working in South-East Asia working in fashion and homewares. On returning to the UK, Lottie retrained in Garden Design at the Inchbald School of Design, graduating with Distinction. Since then she has been working on gardens around the UK, from small urban spaces to historic estates and commercial developments.
Lottie is passionate about connecting people to the natural world and the underrated story-telling power of gardens. In May 2022, Lottie completed her first show garden at RHS Chelsea, A Textile Garden for Fashion Revolution.
She has been featured widely in the press, talks and chairs panels on gardens and design, and regularly writes for House & Garden. Lottie is a big advocate for the power of gardens to enrich our lives, and is a trustee of We Are Grow a charity working with schools & communities delivering programmes in sustainable food growing & outdoor learning. Her first book, published by Thames & Hudson is out in Spring 2026.
Lottie is passionate about connecting people to the natural world and the underrated story-telling power of gardens. In May 2022, Lottie completed her first show garden at RHS Chelsea, A Textile Garden for Fashion Revolution.
She has been featured widely in the press, talks and chairs panels on gardens and design, and regularly writes for House & Garden. Lottie is a big advocate for the power of gardens to enrich our lives, and is a trustee of We Are Grow a charity working with schools & communities delivering programmes in sustainable food growing & outdoor learning. Her first book, published by Thames & Hudson is out in Spring 2026.
Ben Brace
Landscape Architect CMLIBen is a Chartered Landscape Architect, Project Manager and Horticulturalist with 18 years experience across a range of projects and scales.
He spent several years at the Royal Horticultural Society playing a major role in delivering the Key Investment Projects, most notably at RHS Garden Bridgewater. More recently he has worked on the delivery of high end, complex landscapes, with a focus on commercial development projects throughout London.
A self-confessed plant nerd, Ben is a champion of community green spaces, Ben loves the challenge of integrating green infrastructure into urban sites and enabling equitable access for all.
He spent several years at the Royal Horticultural Society playing a major role in delivering the Key Investment Projects, most notably at RHS Garden Bridgewater. More recently he has worked on the delivery of high end, complex landscapes, with a focus on commercial development projects throughout London.
A self-confessed plant nerd, Ben is a champion of community green spaces, Ben loves the challenge of integrating green infrastructure into urban sites and enabling equitable access for all.
Fred Tiffin
Garden DesignerFred came to garden design from a career as a documentary producer working all over the world in news, current affairs and sport. He retrained at the
London College of Garden Design at Kew, graduating with a distinction and then began his career at Cameron Gardens before joining the studio in 2024.
He is an avid gardener, passionate plantsman and devout believer in the capacity of nature to cure the soul. He learnt his love of romantic, naturalistic gardens from his father’s rose collection and has a gimlet eye for good design. Today his designs draw on many years of travelling, having visited over 70 countries and counting. When he’s not in the garden with his dog Olive, he might well be found at Stamford Bridge supporting his other love Chelsea.
He is an avid gardener, passionate plantsman and devout believer in the capacity of nature to cure the soul. He learnt his love of romantic, naturalistic gardens from his father’s rose collection and has a gimlet eye for good design. Today his designs draw on many years of travelling, having visited over 70 countries and counting. When he’s not in the garden with his dog Olive, he might well be found at Stamford Bridge supporting his other love Chelsea.
A contemptorary take on a woodland garden
On meeting this garden, it was large, unloved and over-grown on an awkward diagonal slope. But despite the challenges, it had lots of life lurking - a bevy of beautiful trees around which the whole design would come to be orientated, scale that allowed for zones and microclimates, ball sports and dens, terraces and even a full size trampoline.
The first challenge was how to manage the slope - with no rear access and reluctant to ferry soil off site, we created a large sculptural ribbon of steel that carved level terraces out of the slope, grading the topsoil into lawns and beds. The steel was also used to soften the levels between the house and garden in a series of south facing terraces which were then planted with sun-loving Mediterranean plants.
The first challenge was how to manage the slope - with no rear access and reluctant to ferry soil off site, we created a large sculptural ribbon of steel that carved level terraces out of the slope, grading the topsoil into lawns and beds. The steel was also used to soften the levels between the house and garden in a series of south facing terraces which were then planted with sun-loving Mediterranean plants.
Established trees became anchors, around which the design pivoted
A beautiful Acer palmatum became a spot height but also set the tone and palette for the dappled woodland palette - lime greens and deep purples jostle with delicate umbrels of Cenolophium denudatum and the swoosh of Hakonechloa macra.
A new Ptelea trifoliata signals the entrance into the lower garden, a perfect mid-height tree to bring the more established planting into scale. The second lawn is designed for kicking balls and cartwheels, with a custom cantilvered bench for lucky spectators.
And for those that venture further still into the garden, you reach a woodland den, complete with treehouse, treetop walkway and slides, plus a discreetly hidden trampoline. For budding entomologists, there are rocks and logs galore among the hostas, ferns and boehmerias where bugs and insects hide.
We are delighted to see this garden start a new chapter. With special thanks to London Hardscapes for their brilliant work in building this garden through a long and very wet winter.
A new Ptelea trifoliata signals the entrance into the lower garden, a perfect mid-height tree to bring the more established planting into scale. The second lawn is designed for kicking balls and cartwheels, with a custom cantilvered bench for lucky spectators.
And for those that venture further still into the garden, you reach a woodland den, complete with treehouse, treetop walkway and slides, plus a discreetly hidden trampoline. For budding entomologists, there are rocks and logs galore among the hostas, ferns and boehmerias where bugs and insects hide.
We are delighted to see this garden start a new chapter. With special thanks to London Hardscapes for their brilliant work in building this garden through a long and very wet winter.
Further images
studio@lottiedelamain.com
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