On International Women’s Day, while we take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across all fields we are especially fortunate that the world of garden design is one in which women have been leaders and pioneers for centuries. British women in particular have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of modern gardening, influencing everything from design philosophy to planting styles.
At Agriframes we recognise the creativity and legacy of women who have transformed gardens and influenced us all - Here we celebrate three remarkable British women garden designers — past and present—whose innovative visions continue to inspire gardeners worldwide.
Gertrude Jekyll (1843–1932) The Pioneer of Colour and Form
No celebration of British garden designers would be complete without mentioning Gertrude Jekyll, one of the most influential figures in garden history. Renowned for her painterly approach to planting, Jekyll transformed garden design into an art form, pioneering the use of colour schemes and seasonal planting combinations. She collaborated with her friend, the legendary architect Edwin Lutyens, creating over 400 gardens across Britain, Europe, and the United States including the celebrated formal gardens at Hestercombe in Somerset.
Innovations and Legacy
Her approach to garden design was revolutionary, treating each garden as a canvas - Inspired by her background in painting, Jekyll used harmonious colour palettes to create visual flow and balance in her gardens. She carefully combined hues, textures, and heights to create stunning borders that evolved with the seasons.
She popularised the informal, romantic cottage garden style, blending perennials, shrubs, and bulbs in layered arrangements and her books, such as Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden, which continues to inspire designers today - In our recent survey the vibrantly coloured David Austin 'Gertrude Jekyll’ rose was a runaway favourite with Agriframes customers.
One of her most enduring legacies is the garden at Munstead Wood in Surrey, her own home designed for her by Lutyens, which is currently undergoing renovation following its purchase by The National Trust in 2023.
Inspiration for Your Garden
Include Agriframes’ Elegance Obelisks, available in a range of subtle colour finishes, in flowing borders of complementary perennials, creating layers of colour and texture and adding height as a highlight .
Plant Supports are invaluable in helping to create the effortless billowing effect of the borders Jekyll created in her gardens - Agriframes range includes supports particularly designed to make the most of Peonies and Roses - always a favourite.
Beth Chatto (1923–2018) The Queen of Dry Gardens
Beth Chatto was a pioneering plantswoman who transformed the way we think about garden sustainability. Born in Essex, she faced the challenge of cultivating a garden on dry, infertile land. Embracing the philosophy of “right plant, right place,” she created the world-renowned Beth Chatto Gardens, demonstrating the power of ecological harmony and sustainable gardening - truly a woman ahead of her time!
Innovations and Legacy
Chatto revolutionised dry gardening by selecting plants suited to challenging conditions, reducing water usage and maintenance - with the challenges of climate change upon us Drought-Resistant Planting has never been more at the front of our minds and her books The Dry Garden and The Gravel Garden continue to inspire generations of gardeners to think sustainably and creatively.
She championed a naturalistic approach, designing gardens that adapted to the landscape’s specific conditions rather than altering the environment to suit the plants.
Her Gravel Garden - once a car park at her nursery near Colchester in Essex - was originally planted by Beth and her team as an experiment to test a range of drought tolerant plants. The garden is famous for the fact that it is never watered despite being situated in one of the driest parts of the country and having a naturally free draining soil. The resulting garden is legendary for its beauty and resilience - By choosing plants adapted to the dry, sunny conditions, she created a thriving garden that showcases the potential of sustainable design.
Inspiration for Your Garden
Embrace Chatto’s philosophy by selecting plants suited to your garden’s conditions. Pair Agriframes’ garden arches with drought-tolerant climbers like Trachelospermum jasminoides or Clematis tangutica, creating a beautiful, low-maintenance display.
Planters and Obelisks can be used to showcase architectural succulents and grasses, echoing Chatto’s love for form and texture and a Provence Bistro Set is the perfect place to soak up the sun in a herb scented mediterranean themed area inspired by Chatto’s gravel garden.
Sarah Price (1980–Present) The Modern Naturalist
Sarah Price is one of today’s most influential garden designers, known for her artistic, naturalistic planting style. With a background in fine art and a passion for wild landscapes, Price creates gardens that blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Her designs emphasise seasonal change, textural contrasts, and like many of her predecessors she promotes a ‘painterly’ approach to planting - seeing the garden as a canvas.
Innovations and Legacy
Price uses grasses, perennials, and native species to create dynamic, ecological gardens that mirror natural landscapes - She masterfully plays with texture and movement, creating immersive spaces that are both beautiful and biodiverse.
Her acclaimed designs for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, including the 2012 Olympic Park Gardens, showcase her talent for ‘storytelling through planting’ - celebrating the beauty of native plants and seasonal variation she is a hugely influential designer with a focus on sustainability and a thought provoking contemporary take on the traditional styles.
Inspiration for Your Garden
Recreate Price’s naturalistic style by combining grasses like Stipa gigantea with airy perennials such as Verbena bonariensis.
Use Agriframes’ Trellises and Obelisks to showcase seasonal change by planting a series of delicate climbers that will flower throughout the year - delicate climbers like Sweet Peas add vertical interest while maintaining a light, natural feel.
Honouring Women’s Legacy in Garden Design
These three pioneering women—Gertrude Jekyll, Beth Chatto, and Sarah Price—have not only shaped garden design but have also empowered women in horticulture. Their innovative visions and commitment to beauty and sustainability continue to inspire gardeners worldwide.
At Agriframes, we celebrate their legacy by offering garden structures that complement their planting styles and make it simple for you to bring a little of the designer feel to your own back garden - Whether you’re inspired by Jekyll’s harmonious colour palettes, Chatto’s sustainable approach, or Price’s naturalistic designs - or elements of all three Agriframes structures and supports can help bring your garden vision to life.
Explore our range to create your own inspiring outdoor space.
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