Garden & landscape designer in Bristol – Gardens that change the way you live.

Immersive, joyful gardens that pull you outside every day of the year: to eat, host, work and unwind. Underneath it all is an ecologist's understanding of how a garden really works, so it grows richer long after it's planted.

Full redesignsPlanting refreshesOne-day consultationsGarden care

Rated 5.0 on GoogleRead client reviews Bristol, Bath & the South WestGarden design & stewardship TrainedLondon College of Garden Design
BuiltRichmond Rd, Bristol: a level terrace, potted figs and layered planting around a garden office, seen from the kitchen
Richmond RdBristol · 5 × 12 m
Olive trees and herbs around café tables on the Root Bath rooftop
Root, Bath
“Jack's professional advice and vision was invaluable. He took soil samples, checked the light in the garden and helped me understand the nuances of creating a garden. Jack sourced and planted everything. I am delighted with the results.”
Mary A., Planting design, inner-city garden, Bristol
“We have a little inner city garden in Montpelier which Jack turned into not only a haven for our small children, but also something beautiful for us to enjoy. Every day I look out at it, it makes me smile and brings me such joy.”
Philippa L., Family garden, Montpelier, Bristol

Services

A service for every stage

Whether you're starting from scratch, refreshing your planting or just want some expert ideas, there's a way to work together, with a clear idea of cost up front.

30-second quiz

Not sure where to start? Which service is right for me?

Answer three quick questions and I'll point you to the best way to work together. There's a service for every stage and budget.

01What are you hoping to do?
BuiltGarden office doors opening onto layered planting at Richmond Rd
The officeRichmond Rd
A whippet resting on a green garden sofa
Resident

Featured case study · Bristol

designed with the kitchen – Richmond Rd

This garden was designed in tandem with the kitchen renovation, so house and garden were planned as one. The terrace runs straight out from the kitchen, a bespoke office sits among the planting, and a small pond brings in more life than the old lawn ever did.

Renovating? Bring me in alongside your architect or kitchen designer. Planning inside and out together means house and garden work as one from day one.

5 × 12 mPlot size
South-westAspect
1 officePlus a shed and a wildlife pond
Inside–outsidePlanned alongside the kitchen renovation
Read the case study →

Process

How it works

Five clear stages, from a free first conversation to a garden that matures the way it was designed to.

Book a free discovery call →
  1. 01

    Conversation

    A free, relaxed call about your garden, your life and your budget. No obligation.

  2. 02

    Concept

    A site visit and survey, then the big ideas: layout, mood, materials and planting.

  3. 03

    Detailed Design

    The landscaper pack: the technical drawings, planting plans and specifications a landscaper builds from.

  4. 04

    The Build

    I manage the tender and monitor the build with your landscaper. My team and I prefer to plant the garden ourselves.

  5. 05

    Stewardship

    Ongoing care so the garden matures exactly as intended.

Garden designer in Bristol

Gardens across Bristol

Bristol is home, and most of my built work is here. Richmond Rd and Hazel Woodland are both in Montpelier, a few streets apart, and couldn't be more different: a 5 × 12 m terrace garden built for hosting, and a woodland meadow full of orchids and hedgehogs. A third Montpelier garden is on the drawing board now.

Victorian and Edwardian houses across the city often come with narrow, shaded or overlooked gardens, and many owners are renovating the house at the same time. That's exactly where good design earns its keep: level thresholds, clever screening and planting that thrives in less-than-perfect light.

  • Clifton
  • Redland
  • Cotham
  • Montpelier
  • St Andrews
  • Bishopston
  • Southville
  • Bedminster
  • Totterdown
  • Henleaze
  • Westbury-on-Trym
  • Stoke Bishop
  • Sneyd Park
  • Long Ashton
Jack Dicks on the Root Bath rooftop terrace
Hello, I'm Jack

About

ecologist by training, designer by nature

I was head gardener at my family home in Devon from the age of twelve, quietly redesigning borders whenever my parents went on holiday. Then came a Master's in Biology & Marine Biology and years as a marine biologist, before I trained at the London College of Garden Design.

Every project starts with listening: to you, how you live and what the site is telling us. Then I bring ideas you wouldn't have come up with yourself, backed by an understanding of how planting, soil and water work together, so your garden looks extraordinary and thrives without constant effort.

More about Jack →

Where I work

Based in Bristol, designing gardens in Bath, the Cotswolds, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and across the South West.

From Clifton and Montpelier townhouses to country homes an hour outside the city. Garden stewardship covers Bristol, Bath and the surrounding villages. Projects further afield are taken on by referral.

FAQs

Good questions

Something else on your mind? Ask me directly.

What's the difference between a garden designer and a landscaper?

A garden designer creates the design: the layout, drawings, planting plans and specifications. A landscaper builds it. I produce a detailed landscaper pack and stay involved through the build, so what gets built is what we designed.

How much should I budget?

Every garden is priced on its scope and complexity. As a guide, the concept and masterplan start from around £2,000, and the build is quoted separately by your landscaper. Planting design starts from £500 and a Garden Design Day is £500. See my garden design cost guide or try the quiz.

I don't have time to garden. Will it be hard to look after?

No. I design around the time you want to spend, and my garden maintenance service means my team and I can look after it for you in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.

Can the garden work for young children?

Yes. Family gardens need room to play, places to hide and planting that can take a stray football, as well as somewhere for the grown-ups to sit. We'll plan the garden around how your family uses it now and how that will change as the children grow.

Can we keep some lawn?

Of course, if it suits how you live. Lawn is great for play. I'll put it where it works best and make sure the rest of the garden doesn't depend on it.

Is a pond safe with young children?

Safety comes first. Water can be designed with shallow planted margins or a safety grille, or simply added later when the children are older. We'll decide together what's right for your family.

We're overlooked. Can you help?

Yes. Layered planting, multi-stem trees, screens and garden buildings can give you privacy without making the garden feel boxed in. At Richmond Rd, the garden office breaks up the sight lines.

Is my garden too small?

No. Richmond Rd is 5 by 12 metres. Small, shaded and awkward plots are often where good design makes the biggest difference.

Which areas do you cover?

I'm based in Bristol and design gardens across Bath, the Cotswolds, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the wider South West.

Book a free discovery call

Let's talk about your garden

Tell me a little about your garden and what you're hoping for. The first conversation is free and there's no obligation.

  1. I reply personallyUsually within 48 hours.
  2. A free discovery callA relaxed chat about your garden, your plans and your budget.
  3. A site visitIf we're a good fit, I come and see the garden.

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