Founded by Anna Butterfield in 2016, we have had the pleasure of working on a variety of projects from wonderfully wild gardens to clean and crisp courtyards, spaces for entertaining and naturalistic play areas. We are a small team of talented and dedicated designers and plants people, and all share the ethos that gardens should be designed and developed for people and planet.
The design team works together across all aspects of the design process, from initial meetings and developing concepts through to technical detailing and plant selection. The garden care team plants all of our designed gardens as well as carrying out the hugely important role of looking after them, and others, throughout the year.
Gardening, nature and wildlife have always played an important part in Anna’s life. She was brought up surrounded by keen gardeners and some of her earliest memories are of the delicious earthy smell of cherry tomatoes in her grandpa Wally’s greenhouse, the beautiful roses in his garden and her great uncle’s prize-winning vegetables!
After a career in property development gaining many useful skills, Anna began to crave a job which enabled her to be more creative and connect with nature. Finding an opportunity to combine her passion for quality design and the natural world, Anna retrained in garden design and set up Gardens by Anna Butterfield in 2016.
She loves creating gardens that help people connect with and support nature and really get the most from their outdoor spaces. For Anna, designing gardens is just the first step towards creating beautiful and happy outdoor spaces – being able to nurture them to develop as intended is just as important as the design itself.
Anna is passionate about protecting the environment and strongly believes in designing for both people and planet, gardening organically and limiting our environmental impact as much as possible. You can find more about our company ethos here.
Anna is an accredited designer with the Association of Professional Landscapers, a Pre-Registered Member of both the Society of Garden Designers and the British Association of Landscape Industries, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
Must have plant: Nepeta – always plastered in pollinators and one of the best plants for edging a path, underplanting roses and mingling with other perennials… what’s not to love?!
Sophie completed a diploma in Garden Design at the prestigious London College of Garden Design at Kew Gardens. She is also an intuitive and experienced gardener with great plant knowledge and a love of nature. Although only recently joining the team Sophie has already become an essential part of everything that we do, from the design stage through to planting and aftercare.
Katherine has gardened since childhood and loves spending time outdoors with her family and three cats. After 15 years in London working in magazine publishing she switched careers to spend more time outside nurturing plants. She loves growing plants for bees and tackling overgrown shrubs and roses!
Must have plant: Trachelospernum jasminoides – a fab evergreen climber with highly scented white flowers in summer.
Deborah has been gardening for as long as she can remember; obtaining a City and Guilds Certificate in Gardening and Garden Design qualification in 2000. She combined a successful career as a Government Statistician and raising 3 children with gardening for local friends and clients. She is now concentrating on gardening, combining her passion for plants and nature with new challenges working outdoors. In her spare time she also volunteers for gardening charities
Must have plant: Euphorbia wulfenii – one of the first signs of spring in my garden, combining that lurid limey yellow with grey green foliage which holds perfect water droplets. It spreads profusely, meaning you’ll either love it or hate it!
Rachel has recently joined the team to assist in running the studio and organising our garden care service. She has a background in Textile Design and Product Management.
Rachel is a passionate gardener who enjoys spending most of her free time in her garden, watching it transform through the seasons.
Must have plant: Hellebore – perfect for brightening a shady corner! A particular favourite is Helleborus Orientalis ‘Cinderella’ which has beautiful frilly double flowers and maroon speckles that last for months. It’s one of the first signs of spring!
Gardens by Anna Butterfield offer professional garden and planting design across London and the South East.
Our expert, organic garden care service is available across South East London as well as parts of Kent and Surrey.
