Designing gardens that work for you

I’m Camilla Grayley, a RHS award winning garden designer. Based in York, I work with clients in Yorkshire and throughout the UK. I’ve transformed gardens in Leeds, Wetherby, Harrogate, London, Surrey and Bath.

From courtyards to estates

Have you inherited a garden you want to make your own? Or want to refresh your existing outdoor space? I can give your small courtyard the wow factor. Or break your country garden down into manageable areas.

Garden including outdoor kitchen - showing an outdoor kitchen lit up at night with bespoke pergola and garden view

Outdoor kitchen with herb planters - showing an L-shaped kitchen with bespoke pergola and barbecue

Family garden seating area - two outdoor sofas and chairs surrounded by scented shrubs and purple flowering perennials

Family garden in winter - showing the light falling through the trellis and the frost covered topiary and seed heads

Front garden with seating area - evergreen hedging for privacy and planted up with grasses and perennials

Family garden border - green metal obelisks for the roses and planted with Verbena bonariensis

Country garden planting scheme, showing how much it has filled out in one year.

Raised border with copper down lights - clad in copper slate, to create a secluded seating area with pergola and climbers

Front garden for retired couple, planted with pink and purple flowers - creating an interesting garden for them to enjoy as they walk up to the front door

Planting design for a sunlit border that sits partially in shade

Sculpture detail of the show garden, showing the planting through the waves

Award winning show garden at RHS Wentworth Woodhouse

A collaborative approach

I design your garden to fulfil your needs. I take into account your likes, the size and space and the site. It is your garden and your input is vital during this process. Together, we can make it a place to enjoy for years to come.

Softness. Sustainability. Strength.

Any design should be in response to the garden itself. As well as how it links to the house and the surrounding landscape.

Researching and choosing the right plants for your garden is a key element of my design process.

My designs incorporate strong architectural shapes and soft informal planting. Alongside creative solutions to help you make the most of any outdoor space.

Sustainability is another important consideration. Can the materials be recycled or reused? How will the design cope with excess water or drought?

A life-long passion for plants

As a child, I spent my pocket money on plants to create floral displays. After studying ecology and environment management at university, it was a natural step to learn more through the RHS. I then gained a diploma in garden design. Discover more in my story.

Flexible and practical

I can assist you with any part of the garden design process, from planting designs and project monitoring to a full garden design process.

A garden consultation can help pull your ideas together, suggest what to plant in problem areas or how to best link parts of the garden together.

I’ve been struggling with a raised bed in dry shade. Camilla produced a thoughtful planting plan to fit my colour scheme and which incorporates an existing tree, rose and hydrangea. She also offered advice on which compost to use. A very considered, practical service. Highly recommended.

H, York

Camilla is totally professional and knowledgeable. She designed my back garden last year, and was with me every step of the way from thinking about the way I wanted to use my garden and its soil, aspect, size and shape.

She did home visits, to map out the garden as was, produced and discussed drawings, liasised with the landscapers, helped chose buy and plant up the planting schemes.

I am absolutely delighted with the finished result and have no hesitation in recommending her.

And yes, I would love to work with her again.

S, York

We couldn’t be happier with the work Camilla has done in our garden! She completely understood the brief and executed to perfection. We would highly recommend.

J, York