FAQS
Everything you might want to know before we meet.
ABOUT GOLD & WILD
Who are you?+
Gold & Wild is an RHS award-winning garden design and landscaping company providing specialist horticultural services across London and the surrounding Home Counties.
We’re a small, specialist team, bringing creativity, horticultural expertise and a genuine passion for gardens to every project.
Discover more about Gold & Wild — meet the team →
What do you do?+
We design, build, plant and care for beautiful, naturalistic gardens for residential and commercial clients. Our services include garden design and build, planting design and soft landscaping, garden renovation, horticultural consultation, and specialist garden aftercare and maintenance.
How do you do it?+
We start by understanding how you want to use and experience your garden, then explore how nature, planting and wildlife can become part of that experience.
Our team combines skilled horticulture, thoughtful design and a deep respect for nature to create gardens that work beautifully for the people who use them, support wildlife and grow better with time.
What experience and credentials do you have?+
Gold & Wild is led by RHS Gold Award-winning garden designer Jon Davies, who brings more than 20 years of experience in garden design, landscaping and horticulture. He is also the author of Wild City and co-founder of Wild City Studio, exploring how nature, community and wildness can play a greater role in our shared spaces.
Our wider team brings together experienced garden designers, horticulturists, landscapers and gardeners, combining creative design with deep practical knowledge of plants and landscapes.
What do your customers say?+
Our clients often tell us that they value not only the gardens we create, but the experience of creating them with us — our creativity, knowledge, attention to detail and the care our team brings to their homes and gardens.
Many of our projects come through recommendations and long-standing relationships, and we’re incredibly proud of the lovely things our clients have said about working with us.
YOUR PROJECT
Where do you work?+
We work across London and the surrounding Home Counties, with projects throughout North, East and West London and into Hertfordshire.
Our team regularly works in areas including Islington, Hampstead, Primrose Hill, Hackney, Stoke Newington, Walthamstow, Holland Park, Notting Hill, Enfield, Hadley Wood, Cuffley and St Albans, as well as surrounding areas.
What size projects do you work on?+
We work across a broad range of project sizes, from focused planting schemes and garden renovations to complete garden design and build projects and larger residential and commercial landscapes.
Residential projects typically range from around £10,000 to £200,000+, depending on the size of the garden, scope of work and level of construction involved.
For commercial, public realm and development projects, we work with architects, developers, contractors and organisations on larger landscaping, planting and horticultural schemes, with scope and budgets assessed individually.
If you have a particular project in mind, get in touch → and we can quickly establish whether we’re the right fit.
How much does a garden project cost?+
Every garden is different, so the cost depends on its size, the scope of the project, the amount of construction involved, materials and planting.
As a guide, our residential projects typically range from around £10,000 to £200,000+. A focused planting or garden renovation project may sit towards the lower end, while a complete design and build project involving significant landscaping and construction will require a larger investment.
We’ll discuss budget with you early in the process, help you understand what’s achievable and shape the scope of the project accordingly.
How long does a garden project take?+
Every project is different. A focused planting or garden renovation project may take a matter of weeks, while a complete garden design and build can take several months from the first conversation to final planting.
We’ll give you a clear idea of timings early on and keep you updated as the project develops. If you have a particular date or occasion in mind, tell us at the outset and we’ll factor that into the planning.
When is the best time to start a garden project?+
There’s no single perfect time — beautiful gardens are planned, built and planted throughout the year.
The best time to start is usually before you think you need to. Good design takes thought, and larger projects need time for planning, sourcing and construction before planting begins. If you’re dreaming of enjoying a transformed garden next summer, it’s worth starting the conversation well in advance.
Will the garden reflect my own style and ideas?+
Absolutely. Every garden is shaped around you, your property and its surroundings.
We’ll listen to how you want your garden to look, feel and function, then bring our creativity, design thinking and horticultural knowledge to develop those ideas into something that works beautifully and feels personal to you.
We’ll also challenge ideas when we think there’s a better solution — creative collaboration is an important part of our process.
Can you work with an existing garden?+
Absolutely. Creating something new doesn’t always mean starting again.
We can work with the bones of an existing garden, keeping the things that already work and reimagining those that don’t. That might mean transforming the planting, renovating tired areas, introducing new features or reshaping the garden more substantially.
Sometimes the most interesting gardens come from working with what’s already there rather than wiping the slate clean.
Can you work with my architect, designer or contractor?+
Yes. We regularly collaborate with other professionals and are very happy to join a wider project team.
We can work alongside architects, landscape architects, garden designers, developers, contractors and other specialists, bringing our expertise in horticulture, planting, garden design and landscaping wherever it adds the most value.
For larger residential, commercial and public-realm projects, we can also provide specialist horticultural and landscape consultation.
WORKING TOGETHER
Do you offer an initial consultation?+
Yes. It starts with a conversation about you, your garden and what you’d like to achieve.
We’ll discuss what’s working, what isn’t, how you’d like to use the space, the look and feeling you’re drawn to, and the budget you’re considering. From there, we can recommend the right way forward and explain what the next steps would look like.
There’s no need to arrive with all the answers — helping you discover what your garden could become is part of what we do.
How does your process work?+
Every project starts with a conversation. We’ll get to know you, your garden, what you’d like to achieve and the budget you’re considering.
From there, the process depends on the project, but typically moves through design and development, planning and preparation, construction, planting and establishment. We’ll guide you through each stage, explain what happens next and manage the process from start to finish.
Can you manage the whole process?+
Yes. For our full garden design and build projects, we can manage the entire process from the first ideas and design development through to construction, planting and establishment.
Having one experienced team involved throughout means the original design intent is carried through into the finished garden, with the practical, horticultural and creative decisions considered together.
We can also provide ongoing aftercare and maintenance to help the garden establish and develop beautifully over time.
Who are the Gold & Wild team?+
We’re a small, experienced team of garden designers, horticulturists, landscapers and gardeners, brought together by a shared love of plants, nature and beautifully made outdoor spaces.
Led by RHS Gold Award-winning designer Jon Davies, our team combines expertise in garden design, horticulture, planting, landscaping and ongoing garden care. Many of us have backgrounds in art, design and other creative disciplines too, which brings a different perspective to the gardens we create.
Who will actually work on my garden?+
That depends on the project. We have specialist teams covering design, landscaping and installation, planting, and ongoing garden maintenance, so we can bring in the right people and skills at each stage.
You’ll know who is responsible for your project and who will be working in your garden. For larger or more specialist elements, we may also work alongside trusted trades and specialists where required.
How much of my time will the project require?+
As much or as little as you’d like. We’ll involve you at the key stages where your input and decisions matter, but we can manage the day-to-day process so you don’t have to.
Some clients enjoy being closely involved throughout, while others prefer to agree the direction and leave us to get on with it. Either way, we’ll keep you informed and make sure you’re comfortable with the decisions being made.
How will I know what’s happening throughout my project?+
We’ll keep you informed throughout, so you’ll always know where your project stands and what happens next.
We’ll agree the key stages and milestones at the outset, keep you updated as work progresses, and involve you when decisions or approvals are needed. Your project lead will be your main point of contact, so you’ll always know whom to speak to.
AFTER THE BUILD
What happens after you’ve finished?+
This is when the garden really starts to come alive. Planting settles in, seasons change, wildlife arrives, and the landscape begins to develop its own character.
We can stay with you through that journey, providing specialist aftercare and horticultural maintenance to help your garden establish, evolve and become more beautiful with time. Or, if you’d prefer to care for it yourself, we’ll give you the guidance you need to help it flourish.
How much maintenance will my garden need?+
Every garden needs some care, but how much depends on the garden we create and how you want to live with it.
We design with the future in mind, choosing planting and materials that are appropriate for the space and considering how the garden will develop over time. Naturalistic doesn’t mean neglected; thoughtful care keeps the garden looking beautiful while allowing it to evolve, move and change with the seasons.
We can provide ongoing specialist aftercare and maintenance, or give you the guidance you need if you’d prefer to look after it yourself.
MISCELLANEOUS
Still have a question?+
If there’s something we haven’t covered, get in touch. GET IN TOUCH →
Still have a question?
If you’d like to speak about your garden, we’d be happy to hear from you.