A LEADING NAME WITHIN THE GARDEN DESIGN INDUSTRY.
The Garden Builders is known for well-designed and constructed gardens, executed to the smallest detail and completed within schedule and budget. We can work for both established and newer up-and-coming garden designers and landscape architects, interpreting their designs and creating inspiring gardens. Over the years we have won several APL and Bali awards and have constructed Gold and Silver Gilt medal winning show gardens at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show. We pride ourselves in our professionalism, creativity and flexibility in creating gardens that provide our clients with attractive and enjoyable outdoor spaces.
The Garden Builders specialises in the design and construction
FORMED IN 1998.
The Garden Builders specialises in the design and construction primarily of private domestic gardens, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Through the years, we have built a solid reputation also as garden consultants and for producing well-constructed gardens that meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.
Between us, our management team has more than 55 years of experience in garden design, construction and horticulture. Our skills set covers all aspects of the business, enabling us to create genuinely impressive gardens.
The Garden Builders is based in Fulham, south-west London, in an office situated in a showcase/gallery for the best in exterior garden lighting, contemporary garden furniture, bespoke water features and exterior sculpture.
Formed in 1998, the Garden Builders specialises in the design and construction primarily of private domestic gardens, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. Through the years, we have built a solid reputation also as garden consultants and for producing well-constructed gardens that meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.
An Award Winning Team
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Ricky Goodwin – Project DirectorRicky started in the industry over 30 years ago restoring woodlands and specialist Rhododendron collections for his local Parks Department.
He subsequently moved into the private sector, which further motivated him to successfully complete a HND in horticulture at Pershore College. He also started a design and build sub-contracting business. It was during the seven years running his company that Ricky truly sharpened the impressive skills that make him a valuable member of the Garden Builders. These include interpreting design and client briefs, managing skilled craftsmen, outsourcing for specific requirements, paying close attention to the minutest detail of the project and successfully managing and completing projects within schedule and budget.
Ricky joined The Garden Builders in 2003, further strengthening our team with his expertise and extensive network. Ricky boosted our designer database and increased our linkages with important construction professionals.
Ricky has overseen many of our national, award-winning gardens, including those that have won the Gold and Silver Gilt medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He remains the Garden Builders’ lead on prestigious and inventive projects while being in charge of developing the design team and maintenance department. -
Neil Dunster – Project DirectorPart of the team that set up The Garden Builders in 1997, Neil specialises in modern design concepts and the innovative use of the newest and advanced materials. Armed with this knowledge and expertise, Neil advises garden designers on technical matters concerning both traditional and modern schemes.
Neil has worked on many important and award-winning projects; with the most recent award in 2022 with A Gold Award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. With more than 25 years of experience in the garden landscaping industry, his noteworthy builds feature other highly regarded, award-winning show gardens at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a British Association Landscaping Industries (BALI) national award-winning garden. Neil had completed several prestigious landscaping schemes for a London-based landscaping company while studying for his degree in landscape and garden design. Currently, Neil now finds himself in-house, designing & managing bespoke garden plans to the highest of standards. -
Jacek Wac (Jack) – DesignerJack completed his MA in Landscape Architecture from the University in Warsaw, 2003. He chose to pressure his career in the UK, the renowned hub of garden design and horticulture, and joint the Garden Builders, as established landscaping company in London, as garden design.
Jack has a strong command of freehand drawing of freehand drawing and also specialises in various CAD programs enabling him to produce high quality design plans and drawings for all aspects of garden design elements, from layout designs and detailed drawings to visualisations.
His keen interest in design and attention to detail are central in his approach for every design and provide good motivation for developing new projects while knowledge of planting helps him compliment the designs.
Over the years, Jack worked on numerous of exciting and interesting projects exploring various aspects of the garden design industry. -
Mark Gilmore – Senior Project ManagerMark graduated from Nottingham Trent with a BSc degree in Surveying in 2009 and has since worked for a town planning and landscape architect firm working on Local Development Plans and National Planning Policy Frameworks. Having always had a passion for our living landscape and interest in how we use our spaces, Mark then focused his career towards garden design, graduating from Regents Park Capel Manor with a level 4 Diploma in Garden Design.
The combination of the two disciplines means Mark brings a professional approach with a well-rounded balance of knowledge and skills in construction, horticulture, management, design, spatial planning and aesthetics.
Mark has worked with the Garden Builders for 11 years. To date, Mark is part of our Design & Management team -
Jay Wood – Operations ManagerJay first joined The Garden Builders in 2003 after graduating from Capel Manor College. Jay enjoyed this first placement from college and liked the challenge of a multi-trade skilled job which allowed him to work outside. Jay went from a trainee position to a skilled team leader over a 10 year period within The Garden Builders.
Wishing to develop his skills in different areas Jay spent four years running his own business which allowed him to gain managerial skills while working on a variety of landscaping sites across London, here he honed organisational, quality control and customer care skills, which are vital when running your own business.
Jay re-joined The Garden Builders in 2018 and transferred his full skill-set into a specially tailored supervisory role. He now enjoys overseeing numerous projects while dealing with clients and suppliers and our skilled teams to ensure the very best gardens and outside spaces are completed by The Garden Builders. -
Alan Jones – DesignerAlan graduated from The University of Greenwich with a BA HONS in Garden Design in 2012. From there he went on to work in garden maintenance for an award winning garden design and build company. This valuable experience gave him further insight into the industry and furthered his knowledge and interest in planting and design.
Following on from this he has now joined The Garden Builders, where he is more involved in design and uses his knowledge and experience to create interesting design schemes and planting plans. -
Strahil – Senior Site Foreman -
Lyuben – Senior Site Foreman -
Neal – Senior Site Foreman -
Piotr – Soft Landscape Manager
Reviews & Testimonials
I was finishing up the autumn sprucing of my London garden, and when I stepped back to review the day’s work, I was struck by how the hard landscaping you’ve done five years ago has wonderfully withstood time. The granite cobbled sets that border the beds are still perfectly in place, no movement has taken place, and so with the granite on the stepped terrace. The lines are all remarkably straight, as perfect as when they were first laid. You deserve another round of thanks for such excellent work. My heartfelt gratitude, five years on.
Best wishes Max
We are absolutely delighted with the work the Garden Builders carried out on our garden last year. The transformation was amazing and the project accomplished with such professionalism and efficiency in every stage. We appreciate the painstaking effort and attention to detail from planning and design to plant selection and the consideration given to our wishes and inputs on the design and layout, especially on the areas where we only wanted minimal alterations. We found working with the Garden Builders a good experience, who did a very professional and thorough job.
Mrs. S, East Sheen.
Garden Builders provided me with a reassuringly professional service for a surprisingly realistic cost. I am delighted and would highly recommend!
Mrs B, Putney
I have worked with Paul on two projects which cannot be more dissimilar – a north London architectural garden in a very formal style, and a natural garden in Richmond. I have found Paul to have approached both gardens with the same infectious enthusiasm, resourcefulness and efficiency. Such a pleasure to collaborate with a contractor who puts so much passion into each project.
Kim Wilkie – Landscape Architect
The Garden Builders transformed our small London garden and limited space into a wonderfully versatile outdoors environment, for both children’s play and for entertainment. Ricky Goodwin was such an indispensable support in creating the garden we now enjoy and delight in. We appreciate the clever layout that has made the garden appear bigger, which benefits our three growing children, who never felt restricted in their outdoor play by the smallness of our garden. Everything about the build was very professional, with the Garden Builders taking into consideration our family’s convenience during the construction. The well-managed planting resulted in a low maintenance garden with high visual impact. We are thoroughly pleased with our garden and heartily recommend the Garden Builders to our friends and neighbours.
Mrs D, Wandsworth
The Garden Builders are a pleasure to work with. I have enlisted them on a number of gardens I have designed and I have found them always excellent on all aspects of the build. They are on schedule, pay close attention to the smallest detail, provide quick and effective solutions to problems and are always courteous and considerate. Ricky and Dawn provide excellent support with their knowledge and efficiency. I am always happy to recommend the Garden Builders to my clients.
Sarah Hammond Design
I have been completely satisfied with the work and service the Garden Builders have carried out. They are professional and dependable, diligent and always on time, a welcome change from the contractors we have experienced before. The Garden Builders do excellent work and are proud of it. They also came back six months after the initial build to finalise some odds and ends. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
R, Wimbledon, London
