Which aspects of GDS Diploma Course were most important to you?

There were quite a few practical considerations. The hours of the course fitted in well with family life and I liked the structure: the project work built up gradually through the year, so it seemed manageable. I had heard quite a bit in advance about the college principals and other lecturers such as Mark Gregory and Martin Kelley – they all had very strong reputations, not just in teaching circles, but also in the business world. I really loved meeting and working alongside the other students: we all shared a common goal but also had our individual reasons for wanting proper, professional training. The course content was also a major factor: a good balance between hard and soft landscaping, from drainage and dealing with slopes to designing planting schemes for beds and borders.

If I had to sum it up I’d say that the whole emphasis of the course is on working to the highest standards and being thoroughly competent and professional. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the GDS course is helping to raise standards in garden design generally.

So you were a busy mum and newly qualified, professional garden designer. What happened next?

They say that timing is everything. Soon after graduating I received a call from a friend I’d met on the RHS courses. She trained in garden design four years before me and had set up a successful consultancy business, Creative Spaces. But her original business partner had left to pursue other interests so she asked if I could help. The work was coming in thick and fast and I jumped at the chance. Things have now moved forward and I am a full partner in the business.

Which of the skills you acquired on the GDS course do you find most useful in your work?

Time management was essential during training: it taught me to prioritise and set deadlines for myself – very useful now in running a business!  I think the course gave me the confidence to tackle any type of garden or landscape, and to know when to call on other professionals. On a day-to-day level, the drawing and sketching skills I learned from both Robin and Moira I use all the time. It’s extremely useful to provide sketches as well as more technical detailed drawings for clients, to help them visualise your ideas for their gardens.

And your plans for the future?

We’re looking at several larger projects at the moment. One is a 20 acre garden that will put all of my design and project management skills to the test! I want our business to grow and be recognised within the garden design industry for the quality of its work. A design award would also be nice!

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