Ann Dukes is Shropshire’s single registered member of the Society of Garden Designers, the UK’s only professional body dedicated solely to garden design.

An extremely talented professional, she was admitted 12 months ago after proving herself worthy to join the ranks of the group which includes the likes of Arrabella Lennox-Boy, Tom Stuart-Smith and Julie Toll.

Ann has run her business, Pacey-Buck Garden Design, for 12 years.

It is based at the charming Edwardian home she shares with her husband Dr Tim Dukes and sons Hugo and Toby.

Initially working in interior design down south after studying fine art, Ann became interested in horticulture and garden design after meeting her friend Claire Austin, of Clare Austin Hardy Plants.

She went on to train with Christopher Pickard and Rodbaston Agricultural and Horticultural College, and worked with Shropshire’s famous rose grower David Austin, with show gardens at Hampton Court and Tatton Park.

Ann’s clients can spend from £10,000 up to £200,000 on their garden. This investment does still add value to your property, although you may not be able to recoup it all back if you decide to move.

Garden makeovers

She said: “Because people aren’t moving they’re looking at their garden and thinking about what they can improve.

“And people who can’t sell are looking for a makeover to tidy up and make it more appealing to the buyer and give them an edge on the competition.”

This can be done just by having a consultation with Ann, who can point people in the right direction about what can be done. She does charge a fee for this.

Grow your own

Ann said that there was still a demand for low maintenance gardens, with people having less time to look after them and no longer employing gardeners.

She said: “We’ve also now got a huge increase in interest in grow your own. People are introducing a vegetable plot into their garden or combining vegetable and fruit growing within ornamental planting.

“Vegetable growing can be done on a small scale.”

Wildlife gardens

Ann said that another ‘in’ trend was having a wildlife garden, thanks in part to a new BBC programme with Chris Beardshaw called Wild About Your Garden.

She said: “We’ve had a change where people have been developing wildlife gardens and meadows and encouraging birds and other creatures into the garden but ethical gardens are now becoming the new thing. We’re trying not to use peat, as it’s not sustainable.”

Ann said that people were now looking at ‘plant miles’, asking how far a plant has had to travel to get to them. Was it grown in the UK or shipped in?

Eco-friendly products

She said: “Now we’re getting biodegradable pot plants at long last. Wyevale are doing them, and renewable materials are a big thing. For example, for your teak furniture, is it farmed teak rather than just ripping up a tree from the tropical rain forest?”

Using low wattage and LED lighting in the garden is also becoming more popular.

Ann said: “Marshalls are promoting ethically-sourced paving materials.”

“People are just starting to become aware as it starts to come out as editorial from manufacturers who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. This eventually filters down to Joe Public.”

And Ann said that the most important thing was trying to re-use things that you’ve already got in your garden but in a more unique way.

Formal styles

For design, clients are asking for clean styles and formal styles, softened with good texture planting.

Ann said that after the initial consultation, when she assesses the site, if the clients want to go ahead with a project she can then do a design, produce schedules of works and technical documents and arrange a landscaper if required.

She has five proven companies that she can recommend who will tender for the job.

She said: “Some projects you can complete in a week, others can take a month, maybe two.”

“A designer needs to be able to appraise a site and look at it with an unbiased eye, highlighting the positives and not worrying about the negatives.”

Further details can be found at www.paceybuckgardendesign.co.uk