Bespoke Garden Design
Rachel Goozee doesn’t just design gardens; she and her team craft outdoor sanctuaries that blend art, nature, and function. With their signature approach, equal parts precision and creativity, they have earned a reputation as one of the leading figures in bespoke garden design. Whether transforming a suburban patch into a lush retreat or breathing new life into sprawling estates, Rachel Goozee Garden Design is nothing short of alchemy.
The Vision
The brief for the gardens at Twineham Grange Farm was both specific and inspiring: to create six contemporary gardens that complement the houses while harmonising with the surrounding landscape. These gardens were to serve as multifunctional outdoor sanctuaries, featuring spaces to cook, dine, and relax. Privacy and seamless transitions between zones were key, as was the inclusion of native planting wherever possible. A communal access road, lighting scheme, and division of plots were also part of the challenge.
Breathing Life into Gardens
For Rachel, plants are not just decorative elements, they’re the lifeblood of her designs. Every project includes a customised planting plan, tailored to the site’s climate and the client’s preferences. Rachel personally sources plants and trees from respected growers, ensuring they’re not only beautiful species but also sustainable and suited to the aspect and scheme.
Rachel and her team carefully select plants that thrive and establish into their new micro-climate, while enhancing biodiversity and providing year-round seasonal interest, structure and form. Rachel, along with a team of skilled horticulturalists prepared the site in ready for setting out the plants, working with the detailed plans, and then planting with care, arranging each zone to create a harmonious, vibrant space with a cohesive scheme carried around the site of six plots. Hardy choices of Dryopteris ferns, Helebores, Sarcococoa and Hakone grass bring texture and movement to shaded areas, while vibrant blooms of Salvia, and Verbena bonariensis, and long flowering perennials with winter seed heads, attract pollinators and extend seasonal colour and interest.
Structural plants such as Amelanchier and Miscanthus grasses add elegance and versatility to borders, while Sesleria Autumnalis and Anemanthele Lessoniana grasses create naturalistic, flowing designs. Native trees like Betula Utilis (Silver Birch), Betula Nigra (River Birch), Fagus Sylvaticia (Beech) and Carpinus Betulus (Hornbeam) offer architectural beauty adding privacy, perfectly suited to the rolling hills and breezy conditions of Sussex. These plants together create harmonious gardens that are not only visually stunning but also ecologically sensitive and easy to maintain.
These gardens not only harmonise with the landscape but actively contribute to its health and resilience, fostering a balanced relationship between human activity and the natural environment. Each garden is an oasis, offering both communal and personal moments, perfect for everything from morning coffee to evening gatherings under the stars.
Adapting with Precision
Every project has its hurdles, and Twineham Grange Farm was no exception. The site’s topography posed a challenge, requiring innovative solutions to ensure that the gardens felt cohesive despite variations in elevation. Additionally, working within budget constraints called for value engineering, where materials were thoughtfully substituted without compromising the design’s integrity.
The collaborative spirit of Bluestone 57 proved invaluable in navigating these challenges. Their openness to the design input and their shared commitment to the gardens’ importance made problem-solving a seamless and creative process.
Rachel Goozee Garden Design’s work at Twineham Grange Farm reflects their core philosophy: to craft spaces that connect people with their environment while meeting the practical demands of everyday life. Each garden tells a story of careful planning, creative problem-solving, and an unwavering dedication to quality.
A Lasting Legacy
The completed gardens at Twineham Grange Farm are more than just beautiful, they’re a testament to the power of collaboration, communication, and a shared vision. The interplay between contemporary garden design and native planting has resulted in spaces that feel timeless yet modern, practical yet luxurious.
Rachel Goozee Garden Design’s work at Twineham Grange Farm reflects their core philosophy: to craft spaces that connect people with their environment while meeting the practical demands of everyday life. Each garden tells a story of careful planning, creative problem-solving, and an unwavering dedication to quality.
