Helen Elks-Smith - The Chill Out Garden
Helen Elks-Smith MSGD is a member of the Society of Garden Designers.
Initially Helen studied Mathematics before realising that she needed an outlet for her creative energy. A love of plants and gardening led Helen naturally to study first Horticulture and then Garden Design at Writtle College, University of Essex. Helen runs a successful landscape and garden design business based in the New Forest, covering Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire but also undertakes commissions further afield.
'I believe that as well as being a place of beauty and relaxation, a garden must be functional in order to support and enhance our lifestyle. It is known that after just three minutes outside your muscles start to relax so our gardens can really help ease the stresses of modern life.
For my Jacksons garden I was interested in creating a space that really does ease your stress whilst bringing a bit of the country into a more urban setting. The wildflower lawn is easy to look after and helps contribute to those all important green corridors, vital to support wildlife. It will be interesting to see how quickly insects find the meadow.
I am also interested in different types of seating. A wide seat has a totally different feel to a narrow bench. What would we do if inside our homes we only had dining chairs to sit on? In the UK we often have weather that is perfect for morning coffee or afternoon tea, even when it's too cold for a full meal or BBQ. But we need the correct seating to get us out there! This garden offers sun drenched snoozing in the hammock and quiet reflection under the canopy of the group of trees'.
www.elks-smith.co.uk Tel: 01425 674999
