The Nicholsons Garden Design Studio

Freddie’s journey to the Nicholson’s Design team started whilst on a placement year, as part of his degree in product design at Bournemouth University. Graduating with BA honours, Freddie returned to us as an enthusiastic, hardworking and creative minded designer to pick up where he left off. He worked for a while in partnership with Liz allowing her to focus more of her efforts on being managing director. Under her direct mentoring Freddie drew upon her 20 years of experience designing gardens. For the last few years he has progressed into a lead designer, working on projects ranging from Oxford townhouses, country estates, Manor houses and restorations, developing a broad skill set in garden design.

Favourite Garden – Witley Court gardens and Parkland
Why – The beautiful derelict house, reminiscent of a forgotten Blenheim, is preserved by a glory of formal gardens and ponds which help to justly restore the architecture to its magnificent past. I have fond memories of the gardens and woodlands from regular trips with my grandparents as a young child. Whilst the gardens are not actually to my taste, the many memories I have from enjoying the space with my family are very prominent. I use this as inspiration to create the same memories for my clients in their gardens.

Sam made a career change, leaving architecture at the end of 2022 to follow a passion for landscape and the natural environment. Sam brings a diverse skillset, grounded in architectural concepts designs & detailed technical drawings working alongside Freddie to assist with producing the CAD drawings, 3d digital models and visualisations for both concept and construction stages of projects.

Favourite Garden: Buscot Park
Close to where I lived growing up, the gardens and parklands were a firm family favourite to visit. Continuous pockets of gardens fanning out from the Buscot House seamlessly folded into the rolling topography of the surrounding landscape. The Peto Water Garden is a hidden gem etched in my memory, with a stunning vista leading from the house to the lake and pavilion beyond.