Freshgreen Garden Design

23/05/2025

We've been creating a gravel garden with a giant bug hotel. This is part way through. We've been using reclaimed materials from our house extension and also form the neighbours building work. Its good to forage for what you can including, brick, slate, concrete, bamboo, hazel, willow, old ornamental grass stems, cob and tiles.

23/05/2025

A couple of photos of artists impressions I completed earlier in the year for a sloping back garden in the countryside near Crediton. This was a concept design so I have not been involved in getting it built. I may have the opportunity to return to take photos once it's finished.

I have created a winding set of steps that lead to the top of the garden via a couple of stopping off points to sit with a coffee or take in the views in the evening. On a steep slope the steps need to meander otherwise they will be too steep. There is a temptation to put steps in one straight line and for them to be very high which creates a real and perceived barrier to access the garden. Meandering steps create interest and opportunities for flowerbeds as focal points along the way.

The ground either side has both retained beds and areas where the land will slope where wild or informal planting can be placed along with rocks to help hold the slope. Not all areas of ground need to be neat a tidy. The wilder areas create habitats and need less maintenance.

23/05/2025

Why not check out my instagram feed where you'll see a video about creating a sustainable gravel garden.

06/01/2025

Happy New Year everyone! 2 new project on the horizon which I'll try and give updates for.

My tips for 2025 are to be more sustainable in our gardens with the materials we choose. This means adapting our tastes to a more relaxed feel and being brave with moving away from the slick and allowing more rustic and reused elements in.

Hopefully the landscaping industry will make more efforts this year with producing sustainablly made products and being innovative by using new material technologies to give us choices in what we can use.

24/07/2024

I offer consultations on any aspect of your garden from £60 for 2 hours. I have 18 years of experience to help you work our planting, redesign or tweaking an area. Contact me on Facebook or through my website

Freshgreen Garden Design is a design practice by Garden Designer Gill Melling, covering Exeter, Devon, and the UK, offering professional, artistic and flexible services tailored to you. Whatever the size of garden or landscape, we listen to your needs and include you in creating the outdoor space of

24/06/2024

If you need advice and are not local to Devon then don't worry, I can offer online consultations and concept design services. Contact me to discuss your requirements.

24/06/2024

I saw this wonderful border in Looe last week and a great example of coastal sun drenched planting.

24/06/2024

It's that time of year when keeping the garden under control is full on. We have let our lawn go a bit more wild this year and think it has a lovely calming feel. Here are some images. Bit of building work going on in the background.

31/05/2024

Just finished a planting scheme. This is an artists impression of one of the borders. Mediterranean garden meets plants suitable for our eccentric climate!

24/04/2024

Pleased that my website now features higher up on a google search. My hard work in all the boring bits of SEO keywords has paid off a bit.
If you've been a customer and are happy with your garden I would appreciate it if you did a google review for me as this might help push me higher up still.
Freshgreen Garden Design

11/04/2024