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A Garden in the Making, Marlow: A Statement in Rustic Elegance

This project showcases a seamless blend of the garden with its surrounding natural landscape, crossing various elevations to create a dynamic interplay of textures, plant heights, and visual interest. The design not only preserves and enhances the existing vegetation and utilities but also elevates the site’s aesthetic appeal, ensuring it remains both functional and captivating.Situated in a flood-prone area, the project takes an innovative approach to turn a challenge into an opportunity. Rather than simply managing the risk, the design actively leverages it by incorporating specialised zones within the garden to retain water for extended periods. These water features not only enrich local biodiversity but also create a sanctuary for wildlife. Thoughtful water management strategies ensure that excess water is effectively channelled, preventing potential damage. For example, strategically placed depressions collect runoff in low-lying areas, while terraced steps ensure that the immediate surroundings of the house remain dry and protected.A contemporary Corten steel walkway, accompanied by a perforated Corten bridge spanning a seasonal pond, introduces a striking architectural element that is both functional and visually cohesive. In addition, a carefully curated pebbled or gravel pathway enhances permeability between planted zones, improves pedestrian access, and manages drainage with ease. This balance of practicality and design reflects a modern approach to landscape architecture, where aesthetics meet environmental resilience.This project exemplifies how sustainable water management and creative design can work in harmony to transform a site into a thriving, functional, and visually appealing landscape.

A woodland garden, Eton

This woodland-inspired garden design creates a tranquil and inviting atmosphere by combining soft, naturalistic planting with functional, contemporary elements. The lush layers of ferns, delicate maples, and vibrant perennials bring seasonal interest and texture, while the clean, modern lines of the white planters provide structure and elegance.Designed with sustainability in mind, the planting palette incorporates native and shade-tolerant species, fostering biodiversity and creating a low-maintenance, eco-friendly space. The thoughtful use of foliage and flowering plants ensures year-round colour and interest. At the same time, the serene layout encourages relaxation and connection with nature.This garden perfectly balances comfort, usability, and ecological harmony, transforming an urban outdoor space into a refreshing retreat.

Lab Garden, Ascot: Revitalising Nature through Thoughtful Garden Design

The Lab Garden in Ascot is a testament to nature-based solutions, where each element is carefully curated to reconnect the landscape with its surrounding ecosystem. Designed to encourage biodiversity and promote environmental resilience, this garden is not just an outdoor space but a thriving natural habitat.At its core, the Lab Garden seeks to “revise nature into the garden,” blending native plant species with eco-friendly materials to create a sustainable, low-maintenance environment. Planting schemes are designed to encourage local wildlife, providing habitats and food sources for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. This garden features layered planting beds with drought-tolerant and climate-adapted species, ensuring year-round interest and resilience to changing weather patterns.The Lab Garden prioritises water management through permeable paths and soft surfaces so rainwater can infiltrate the underground. A seasonal stream and pond allow some waterlogging, adding another layer of interest and biodiversity to the garden.This space demonstrates how landscape architecture can seamlessly integrate nature-based solutions into residential environments, offering a living model of ecological responsibility. The Lab Garden in Ascot is a beautiful example of how we can revitalise our outdoor spaces to support biodiversity, foster sustainability, and invite nature back into our daily lives.

The Renewal Garden, Maidenhead

A Restored Garden of Balance: This garden tells the story of renewal. Originally planted with too many trees, set too close together and laid over membrane and gravel, the soil was suffocated and the trees became stressed, with some eventually failing. Extreme summer conditions only added to the strain, leaving the space in need of careful adjustment.We removed the most burdened trees to give the remaining ones room to recover, and lifted the membrane to allow the soil to breathe again. A fresh layer of mulch now helps to retain moisture and protect the roots. To bring life back into the borders, we introduced a palette of bee-friendly perennials chosen to attract pollinators, improve biodiversity, and provide colour and seasonal interest.The result is a garden where resilience and beauty coexist, a healthier landscape that supports both people and wildlife.

The Copper Beech Haven, Maidenhead

The Copper Beech Dead Habitat Project: At Ray Mill Island in Maidenhead, community spirit and ecological care come together. The project began with a semi-dead copper beech, whose roots were suffering from soil compaction and lack of habitat value. Rather than removing the trunk, we saw the opportunity to transform it into a feature that supports biodiversity and tells a story of resilience.As a landscape architect, my role was to create an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution, achievable with the help of volunteers of all ages and abilities. Together with the Friends of Ray Mill Island (FoRMI), we repurposed natural materials already available on site from previous tree works and clearings. A protective barrier was formed using a “dead hedge” – woven layers of cut branches – which prevents trampling around the roots, retains organic matter, and provides vital shelter for insects and small wildlife.Around the beech, wildflowers were sown to attract pollinators and add seasonal colour, turning a once-declining tree into a living centrepiece of ecological value. The project demonstrates how minimal cost, creative thinking, and community action can enhance biodiversity while fostering a deeper connection between people and their local landscape.

About Me

Shoshan Dagan is an experienced eco-landscaper, passionate about integrating nature’s inherent beauty into garden spaces. Inspired by the intricate balance of wildlife and ecosystems, her goal is to design gardens that are visually striking, sustainable, and beneficial to the environment. With over 15 years of experience as a landscape architect and horticulturist, she has refined her expertise in creating thriving, eco-friendly landscapes accessible to all.She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) from University College London (UCL), where she focused on eco-landscaping principles to transform gardens into wildlife sanctuaries. Her work prioritises fostering biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems, emphasising Mediterranean climates. She is dedicated to using her extensive landscape design and horticulture knowledge to create beautiful, resilient spaces that enhance the natural world while contributing to long-term environmental conservation.Let us collaborate to harness the power of nature and create gardens that are aesthetically pleasing and beneficial to our planet. Together, we can design lasting, sustainable spaces that enrich your surroundings and help preserve the environment for future generations.