garden designer Archives - WM Design Studio LTD

Grow late flowering plants for the bees

This week I’ve been spotting some fabulous late-flowering perennials, which due to the mild October and smattering of sunny days are still covered in various types of bees.The bright purple blooms above are Aster x frikartii 'Monch', spotted at RHS Bridgewater recently - looking very healthy and being enjoyed by bees. I've also recently spotted a classic ‘butterfly bush’, otherwise known officially as Buddleia, which was covered in honey bees. These are fast-growing late flowering plants, come in various wonderful shades of purple, pinks and whites.And lastly, ivy is another fast growing and late flowering evergreen perennial, which when left to

Categories: Advice and tips, Business news, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, ecology, Garden design, innovation, landscape architecture, Landscape design
October 21st 2022

The end of grass?

This excellent article (below) that featured in The Observer on Sunday, talks through the issues of climate change and droughts and how it affects grass. The end of grass is so ubiquitous and has so many uses. It's so common we don't even notice it, but we certainly notice when it stops growing through drought. Just this summer, large parts of the southern parts of the UK saw months of brown dry grass as it simply hadn’t rained for months. What isn’t always obvious is that grass (including corn) is used for feeding large amounts of domestic and farmed animals. However,

Categories: Advice and tips, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecology, Garden design, Lancashire, landscape architecture, Michael John McGarr
October 7th 2022

Plant your fruit trees this autumn

Autumn is a brilliant time for buying and planting bare-rooted fruit trees. It’s cheaper to buy them bare-rooted and gives the plant a good chance to settle in before growing season starts in the spring time. Planting an apple or pear tree (or maybe both) makes for a classic British garden, especially when you get a glut of fruit and offer them around your neighbours, and you have to eat apple crumble every weekend. In the springtime, both apple and pear trees have a really pretty white flower, which smells delicious. There's a huge selection of flavours and varieties of fruit, and size of

Categories: Advice and tips, Business news, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, ecology, Garden design, innovation, landscape architecture, Michael John McGarr
October 4th 2022

First new park in Manchester city centre for 100 years

Mayfield Park is central Manchester’s newest municipal park in more than 100 years. This park has been six years in the planning and covers 6.5 acres just near Piccadilly station, and runs along the River Medlock. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the landscape architects have planned a new municipal park for the 21st century. The family-friendly space has a kids play park, areas to host live events, and is situated right next to Escape to Freight Island, an open-air food and drink hall. It also demonstrates the city’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and creating more green spaces for well-being. Find out

Categories: Advice and tips, Business news, ecological landscape design, Garden design
September 23rd 2022

A borrowed view…

A ‘borrowed view’ is a classic garden design technique and is not to be underestimated. Within a design, we can include the wider view seen in the distance, as well as features such as large trees within neighbouring gardens, and include them within the overall design. A garden design should always be set within its own landscape, taking inspiration from the natural flora and fauna. Taking note of the local trees, types of plants that flourish and natural landscape materials is a huge consideration with playing with a design. The beauty of a ‘borrowed landscape’ is that it extends your view and can make an

Categories: Advice and tips, Architecture, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, Garden design, Lancashire, Manchester, Michael John McGarr, RHS Bridgewater
September 2nd 2022

Planting design ideas from Castlefield Viaduct

Built in 1892, this steel viaduct used to bring heavy rail traffic in and out of the Great Northern Warehouse, but has been unused since 1969.It has now been reclaimed for public use and turned into a ‘sky garden’ by the National Trust. It recently opened, allowing just 100 people per day to have a guided tour and give their feedback.One of our team recently visited the site and the planting was stunning as expected, with trees chosen for their specific historical uses, as well as lots of bountiful flowering borders.It’s brilliant to see another visitor attraction which gives city dwellers the opportunity to see greenery

Categories: ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, Garden design, Lancashire, landscape architecture, Landscape design, Manchester, Michael John McGarr, National Trust
August 19th 2022

New garden design in Lancashire

I’ve been pulling the picture together for this beautiful garden and outdoor living area in Thistleton in Lancashire. We commissioned a bespoke concrete bench for the perfect contemporary look, set off by the grasses.Calamagrostis were the grasses chosen for this garden for their upright feathery plumes, and gentle rustling sound. This perennial has a really long growing season from early spring. In the summer, the silvery pinkish flowers look stunning and then turn into golden seed heads from autumn onwards. It’s easy to look after and just needs a winter cut, ready for the next growing season. We added a row

Categories: Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, Garden design, Lancashire, landscape architecture, Landscape design, Manchester, Michael John McGarr, Outdoor kitchens, sustainable garden design, sustainable garden design.
August 12th 2022

Luxury high-end outdoor kitchen equipment

We have recently started working with Fesfoc, which is a very high end, top quality outdoor kitchen equipment manufacturer, based in Barcelona.They offer true craftsmanship combined with advanced technology to create the ultimate in outdoor cooking.There is a choice of professional-level gas or charcoal grill, which is designed to cook to perfection.They also have created a stunning outdoor sink and storage unit in stainless steel for optimum resistance against weather and wear.Their products really do create a stand-out high-end luxury experience, so we’re really excited to continue our relationship and bring more of their products to the UK.Castlefield Viaduct opensThe ‘skyline’

Categories: Business news, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, Garden design, landscape architecture, Landscape design, Manchester, Michael John McGarr, Outdoor kitchens, Residential garden
August 12th 2022

RHS Tatton launches for 2022

The RHS Tatton Flower Show launched on Wednesday this week – and by the time you read this newsletter I will be on my way to take a look. While doing big shows is amazing, it’s really nice to be going this year as a visitor. This time last year, I had just launched the Rewilding Garden, created with Cheshire East Council. In the month run-up to the show, we cordoned off a 10x10m area of the parkland where our garden would be, and allowed wild flowers and plants to grow naturally, and based other planting around this. The whole idea was to

Categories: Business news, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, ecology, Garden design, Lancashire, landscape architecture, Landscape design, Michael John McGarr
July 22nd 2022

Outdoor kitchen garden design Michael John McGarr

New outdoor kitchen design for Cheshire

We are just finishing the designs for this outdoor kitchen and garden design in Cheshire. This is the night time view of what it will look like from the back of the house, and as you can see, lighting is really important here. It’s so important to visualise what a garden design will look like in the late evenings and during the winter when it gets dark early. Uplighting underneath the statement trees gives a focus while soft lighting within the outdoor kitchen and dining area means it’s still useable in the evenings. This outdoor kitchen has a large covered area for prepping

Categories: Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, Garden design, garden lighting, Landscape design, Michael John McGarr, Outdoor kitchens
July 15th 2022

Planning your outdoor kitchen

We are still receiving many enquiries about outdoor kitchens with a full range of facilities – so now is the best time to plan out exactly what you want.It’s best to plan around where the sun falls in your garden, during the middle of summer, and decide which parts of the garden you are most likely to use in the morning, the afternoon and then in the evening.Take a look around and figure out where are the best places to cook, where you would put your dining area, and where you want a sunbathing area.Most people want a high quality

Categories: Advice and tips, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, ecology, Garden design, Outdoor kitchens
July 1st 2022

Five years since gold at Tatton

Five years ago we were in the middle of building the ultra-futuristic ‘2101’ garden for RHS Tatton, which went onto win a gold award. The concept was around planting for climate change, with huge cowboy-film style Saguaro cacti, as well as the large round ‘mother-in-law’s cushions’ golden barrel cacti. We used large format porcelain paving to create a large path and seating area, with shaded pergola to shade from the intense sun. There was also a rain garden, designed to absorb excess rainwater, for climate extremes. People don’t realise just how much work goes into making a show garden picture-perfect, planning every

Categories: Advice and tips, Awards, Business news, Cheshire, ecological garden design, ecological landscape design, ecology, Garden design
June 24th 2022

Warnes McGarr & Co. Landscape Design.

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Patrick Gormley

16:52 22 Feb 21

WM Design Studio completed a large landscaping project for us at our previous house. They managed the project from... initial design through to build completion. Throughout the process they delighted us from a design that was both sympathetic to the wider area but also blended with our new home extension. They were professional, friendly and respectful during the build and minimised the disruption associated with a large build project. My wife and I were thrilled with the end results and I would have no hesitation in recommending.read more

Christine Burke

13:23 07 Jan 19

WM Design Studio is a very professional company. Everyone we worked with were intelligent and professional. The design... ideas involved things we wouldn't have been able to think of ourselves and included levelling and transformation of a wasteland at the back. As it was a big project for us there were bound to be minor issues and these were all resolved in a timely and professional manner. The budget was negotiated fairly and the work done was of a high quality. It was worth paying for good workmanship and excellent knowledge in all aspects of our garden design and construction.read more

beccy weeks

06:11 24 Dec 18

We had no idea what potential our garden kept hidden as a secret. These guys design unlocked the potential by... designing a living space that matched exactly what we wanted and kept the theme of our house extension running through the garden to the very end. We are really pleased with the design and the pragmatism around staging the delivery to give us exactly what we want. I would recommend to anyone wanting an amazing outdoor living space!!read more

Mike leary

09:48 20 Dec 18

Michael of WM design studio has been instrumental to gaining planning permission on my project. His industry knowledge... and anticipation of what was required have delivered a scheme which fulfils all the requirements of not only myself as the client but also of a very particular design review panel. Recommend without hesitation!read more

Carolyn Hughes

16:38 19 Apr 18

Having worked with WM Design Studio, I am constantly impressed with Michael's creativity, dedication and... professionalism.read more

Norman Willson

20:16 16 Mar 16

"Many thanks to the team--especially Rob --who did a very professional job. Everything looks fine and I am busy... planting out in the new beds.” Norman Willsonread more

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