Client References

We really enjoyed working with Carol, we were pretty set on what we wanted for our terrace and front garden/driveway, and she listened to what we envisaged but then came back with lots constructive ideas and thoughts, was rigorous on the oh-so-important technical details such as levels, eye-lines etc. Again, when it came to the planting Carol came up with lots of suggestions having listened to the sort of look we were trying to achieve.

We have absolutely loved all the work done from the landscaping to the planting, the whole process was made so easy by Carol and we would happily recommend the whole team, not only for their excellent quality of work but because they have all been a delight to deal with.

Carol had her worked cut out on this one with a steep slope going off the back of the house and a very dilapidated 70’s throw-back garden was in need of complete renovation.Carol brought to life our ideas cohesively, her design was practical, innovative and beautiful with a contemporary feel to the hard landscaping but a soft, natural cottage style to the planting which is exactly what I had envisaged.

She has managed to achieve a real showstopper with various geometric entertaining levels softened with billowing beds of rich colour, structure and movement.  She offered a plethora of resources, was a great communicator and liaised brilliantly with the hard landscapers that we had sourced independently. I think I can honestly say the design and end-result exceeded all expectations and has come into its own so far this spring during lockdown.

We are thrilled with our garden. It’s a sanctuary that we look forward to coming home to. As complete beginners, Carol guided us through the design of our garden and the options available, connected us with a landscaping team, sourced the plants and generally helped things stay on track. It felt like a partnership from the start and she was always on hand to help make choices. The results speak for them self.

Carol, redesigned some very old stairs with Victorian balustrading leading down to the river.  She and her team totally transformed this to blend in with our surroundings. Carol managed her team of landscapers very efficiently and we are delighted with the end result.

My garden was quite a project, starting from a pretty low base, with a client who only sort of knew what she wanted. Carol was a great inspiration to me.  She planned the garden with little guidance from me, and did a great job.  She introduced various tradespeople who worked hard and well, and she was never afraid to hurry them up or correct them if needed. She also sourced quality materials which look fabulous in the garden.

The garden is beautiful now and it’s only in its first season.  Everyone who comes here admires it and ask questions about the names of plants and shrubs. The money I spent on the garden is the best I spent during the whole house/garden project.

I have no hesitation in recommending Carol.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Carol to anyone who is thinking of having their garden designed or landscaped. Her work has made such a difference to the enjoyment of our home, and completely transformed an overgrown plot into something we are really proud of.

We had a meeting to discuss our requirements, and talked about the look and feel that we wished to create. Carol was really helpful in suggesting planting schemes that would complement the house as well as the plot, and she drew up some detailed drawings of how we would achieve all this. She also designed a new terrace for us at the back of the house to compliment the shape of the planting, together with a lighting scheme that would reflect the natural beauty of the garden.

Carol did most of the planting herself and it was absolutely stunning, even in its first year. As part of the new garden, we erected a beautiful thatched summerhouse, and Carol managed to incorporate this into the garden, to look like it had always been there. Sitting inside on a summer’s evening, you feel like you are actually in the garden, surrounded by the beautiful flowers, trees and grasses.

A huge thank you Carol, we are in love with our new garden.

Presented with a bland ‘new-build’ garden, Carol managed to completely transform the look and feel of it to make not only a stunning garden, but an extra room for our house. The nature of the space Carol created has literally transformed our home life; from going outside once or twice a year for a barbecue, to having the doors open every single day.

From the first meeting, we felt relaxed and at ease with Carol’s professionalism and extensive knowledge. When presented with ideas on landscaping and planting we immediately had absolute faith that Carol would create something spectacular. She produced drawings and animations to bring her ideas to life, enabling us to picture the space and make more informed decisions about the final appearance of different landscaping options. Carol was attentive throughout the process, liaising with the hard landscaping company and electricians, checking on progress and keeping the project on track. A huge thank you Carol, we are in love with our new garden.

We have had a glorious summer enjoying watching the plants mature and bloom and now can’t wait to see the changes through the seasons.

I am delighted with the results of Carol’s hard work. I contacted Carol towards the end of a major two year project renovating a derelict house and overgrown garden. My knowledge of gardening was minimal and my brief for the planting plan limited to a couple of favourite colours and the stipulation that the back garden should be practical and very hard-wearing (because I have two large dogs) whilst the dog-free front garden could be more flamboyant. Carol interpreted my requirements perfectly and now, eight months later, I very much appreciate the way Carol’s planting continues to provide interest throughout the year. Carol is a very personable and professional person to deal with and I do not hesitate in recommending her.

I was personally recommended to Carol by a neighbour and on our first meeting I realised that I had chosen well. Carol is a very likeable person. She is fun to work with and has a natural eye for garden landscaping. She suggested trees, shrubs and plants that were really interesting but she always listened to my preferences and did not try and push her own ideas above mine. Her recommendations were always backed up by photos on her i-pad so that I could imagine exactly what she had in mind.

The first project at the top of my garden, has transformed a neglected area (where a large tree had fallen down) into a delightful area of trees, shrubs and plants and the overall effect of different shapes, colours and foliage is most pleasing to the eye.

The second project was the border in front of a new drive. This design replaced a huge hedge which lacked interest and shape. Carol’s choice of shrubs has been the envy of the road! I am still getting lovely comments about my border a year on from when it was planted and it is a joy to pull into my driveway and feast my eyes on the beautiful variety of plants and shrubs.

I wholeheartedly recommend Carol Bridges to you.

From the first discussion about our town garden; Its limitations and our requirements, your design suggestions and empathy regarding what we wanted to achieve, have met and surpassed our expectations.

Three children, two of whom are teenagers, a small dog, a love of eating outside and a need for privacy, a wish for aesthetic appeal combined with practicality. Much harder when dealing with a small open space. Our garden is now an oasis of tranquillity, carefully chosen and discussed hard landscaping that will stand the test of time. Within this, an area for our children to play table tennis and plenty of room for those lazy Sunday afternoons with family and friends around the garden table. We are already reaping the rewards of the beautiful yet practical planting.

We were really impressed with Carol Bridges’ enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication during our relationship with her and the work she did for us.

In all respects she impressed us with the quality of her designs, the thoroughness of her research and her knowledge and creativity.

Our garden is important to us – but we are the first to appreciate it’s not the easiest plot to work with.  Carol’s approach made a tough job look easy, but that is not to underestimate the scale and the scope of work she delivered resulting in a design that reflects our brief and will stand the test of time.

We were so delighted that we used Carol Bridges to take a fresh look at our garden and advise on the best options for design and planting.  She has a flair for design and she was very practical in helping us to achieve our objectives.  She was good value for money and is certainly not afraid of hard work!  We have stayed in touch and appreciate the ongoing support we receive.

We wanted to thank you for the significant help and guidance you have given us over the past few months in relation to our garden design.  There is no doubt in our mind that you have given us a design that is completely complimentary to the new building on the rear of the house and that together they form a significantly more attractive, as well as highly functional space.

You always said that one should think of the garden as an extra room and that it deserves at least as much attention – this was certainly not the attitude we had until you came on board, so thanks for making sure we did dedicate enough time and resources to it.

We were probably quite challenging clients – no clear ideas of what we wanted and no heritage in gardening – but you came at the problem creatively and managed to bring us with you on the creative journey.  At the same time though, you always managed to keep the practical aspects of the garden in mind too.  The end result is great.