Founder & Lead
Dawn Manners
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For the last ten years I have worked restoring and redesigning private gardens in London homes. Transforming overgrown or barren spots into enjoyable outdoor havens is a delightful occupation.
As a small operator I take on all aspects - from initial consultation and refining ideas, agreeing a budget, bringing in the right team and - the best bit - procuring wonderful plants, placing them to suit the space and digging them in where they will thrive. My horticultural style comes out of a collab with customers and mother nature. I take pride in looking after the indoors as the works proceed, and often get recommended for bringing a woman’s touch.
Besides city courtyards and larger gardens, I do installations on balconies, decks and roof terraces. Often exposed to extreme conditions, these planting schemes need careful thought. I have tried and tested a range of plants and planters which work in tight spaces. Essentially I am equally happy getting stuck into a big messy meadow in Islington or a narrow strip on the 12th floor of the Barbican.
Following on from design and installation I will recommend a suitable maintenance plan and a team member to keep things in order across the seasons.
It is essential to work in harmony with nature. I rarely use chemicals of any kind and work with people who feel the same. Nematodes rule!
Gardener
Gvidas Pakarklis
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A caring gardener with attention to detail.
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Whilst specialising in maintenance, I acquired a L1 certificate in Horticulture at OrganicLea. It has solidified a foundation of understanding in plant germination, chemical-free pests & diseases management & growing vegetables.
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Skills:
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Garden Tidies & Maintenance
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Dig-overs / Weeding / Mulching
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Pruning shrubs & small trees
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Plant Advice
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Organic management of pests & diseases
Landscaper
George Manners
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My educational background is design, carpentry and landscaping and I've been in the trades since I was a teenager. In that time I have cast my eyes over hundreds of projects big and small, all over London.
Building green space in England’s biggest urban environment can be very challenging - you find yourself shifting 10 tons of soil in buckets through someone’s arty loft or craning Acers over multi-million pound mansions in Hampstead. Nonetheless, the satisfaction you get from being a part of all the stages of a project until completion is fantastic. I bloody love being in nature and landscaping is the best job in the world.
My tickets:
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Extended Diploma in Art and Design
Brit School (2018-2020)
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Advanced Certificate in Landscape and Construction
Capel Manor College (2020-2020)
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Site Carpentry Apprenticeship
New City College (2021-2023)
I like planting but I'm a bit crap at it so I prefer the hard landscaping. I've been lucky onsite with great teachers who've shown me how to chip, brick lay, re-level, pave, plaster and sleeper walls - which all adds to the courses I studied.
Hopefully soon I'll be in your garden ripping up all the rubbish you don't want and working with you to create something new, green, beautiful and fresh.​
Landscaper
Colin West​
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I’ve been grafting in gardens for 30 years, starting off on my own properties. I love plants and designing gardens - especially water features. I’ve built ponds and done all sorts of landscaping.
A carpenter by trade, I’ll get stuck into everything -
• Ponds
• Paving
• Decking
• Brick work
• Fences
• Sheds.
I have a huge stock of reclaimed materials to keep prices real and quality nice. I’ve got a passion for upcycling as I hate waste and for the last ten years I’ve built bespoke pots and planters with a true artisan feel for people all over North London.
My dad was a cabbie based in this very building in Stoke Newington. I acquired the site some years ago and refurbishing the building into a thing of beauty is my labour of love.
Gardener
Benoît Audureau​
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I am a dedicated and hardworking individual - my experience as a gardener spans many years. I pursued formal education in permaculture with the Mouvement Colibris in France, enhancing my understanding of sustainable practices.
Since 2017, I have participated in all kinds of garden projects, also served as Chairman at the Haggerston Orchards. This role allowed me to not only apply my expertise but also to contribute significantly to our community's green spaces.
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I am deeply passionate about gardening, and bring with me a wealth of knowledge and tools. Please do not hesitate to reach out—I welcome the opportunity for collaboration and discussion.