At a time when garden design can sometimes feel overly polished or trend-driven, Ashleigh Aylett’s landscapes stand apart for their warmth, atmosphere and genuine sense of connection to the natural world. They feel personal rather than performative which is perhaps why she has quickly become one of the most talked about emerging designers in the industry.
Designing Gardens with Emotion and Atmosphere
Aylett specialises in intimate gardens that tell stories through planting, texture and mood. Her style leans towards relaxed and informal spaces, often filled with expressive, natural planting, but there is always a strong structure beneath the softness. Her work balances beauty with emotion. She creates landscapes that feel immersive and layered, often inspired by wider themes around wellbeing, ecology and memory. It is this storytelling approach that gives her gardens such depth and individuality.
A Rapid Rise Through the Industry
Although she only began her horticultural career in 2022, Aylett’s rise through the industry has been remarkably fast. After training under respected designers Emily Erlam and John Davies, she launched her own studio in 2025 and has since built an impressive list of accolades in a very short space of time.
Early recognition came through her inclusion in Pro Landscaper’s “30 Under 30”, before her work began appearing across national press and media. More recently, Gardens Illustrated named her one of their “Ones to Watch in 2025”, which felt less like a prediction and more like confirmation of what the industry already knew.
RHS Tatton 2024: A Breakthrough Moment
Aylett’s breakthrough came at RHS Tatton 2024, where she collaborated with the Woodland Trust on a garden inspired by the English countryside and the importance of protecting Britain’s trees and hedgerows.
The garden captured a rural landscape through streams, pathways, dry stone walls and more than a thousand plants, creating an immersive space that felt nostalgic and deeply familiar. Along with its beauty, the design carried a strong ecological message, focusing on biodiversity and the need for greater resilience within the UK’s tree populations.
The project earnt Ashleigh a Gold Medal, Best Construction and the RHS Young Designer of the Year title. In doing so, she became the first woman to win the award since 2017, firmly establishing her as one of the country’s most exciting emerging talents.
RHS Chelsea 2025: Cementing Her Reputation
What is perhaps most impressive is that she followed this success almost immediately with another major achievement at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025.
Her debut Chelsea garden, Navium Marine: Blue Mind Garden, explored the calming psychological effects of being close to water and the idea of “blue mind”, a sense of wellbeing and tranquillity associated with oceans, rivers and lakes.
Created in collaboration with the Ocean Conservation Trust and sponsored by Navium Marine, the balcony garden approached the theme in a subtle and intelligent way. Rather than relying on dramatic water features, Aylett focused on atmosphere, texture and planting to recreate the emotional qualities of being near water, while also demonstrating how smaller urban spaces can still foster a meaningful connection to nature.
The garden earned both an RHS Gold Medal and Best Balcony and Container Garden, making Aylett the first designer to win RHS Young Designer of the Year and then secure a best-in-category award at Chelsea the following year.
Looking Ahead to Chelsea 2026
Her next project already feels set to continue the momentum. This year, Aylett will once again partner with the Woodland Trust on the Forgotten Forests Garden, a concept centred around the restoration of ancient woodland habitats.
Visitors will move through a landscape that transitions from dark, regimented conifer plantations into thriving biodiverse woodland, illustrating how damaged ecosystems can slowly regenerate with care, patience and thoughtful stewardship.
Why Ashleigh Aylett Is One to Watch
In many ways, Ashleigh Aylett represents a new generation of garden designers who understand that landscapes need to do more than simply look beautiful. They need to feel meaningful, emotionally restorative and environmentally responsible too.
For a relatively new designer, there is already an amazing level of confidence and clarity to her work. She is not chasing trends or trying to imitate established names within the industry. Instead, she seems to be quietly carving out her own voice, one that feels contemporary while remaining deeply connected to the natural world.
It is precisely that balance which makes Ashleigh Aylett such an exciting designer to watch over the coming years.
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