Landscape Designer Freddie Strickland: Approaching Garden Design As An Artform
Contributions From FREDDIE STRICKLAND
Freddie Strickland is an award-winning Garden & Landscape Designer based in Bristol; known for his sustainable designs and innovative use of natural materials. He was crowned RHS Young Designer of the Year in 2021 and currently serves as the Lead Designer at Balston Agius, undertaking projects both nationally and internationally. His accolades and expertise have earned him recognition in prominent publications and competitions within the industry.
Freddie Strickland stands out in the world of garden and landscape design as a young go-getter with an ethos grounded in creativity, sustainability and originality.
Awarded the RHS Young Designer of the Year in 2021, this London-native turned Cornish coast artist and designer intertwines his love for the outdoors with a deep commitment to environmental consciousness in his designs.
Now based in Bristol and working as Lead Designer on projects nationally and internationally at Balston Agius, Freddie continues to craft award-winning designs, earning him recognition as one of the industry’s brightest rising stars.
Note that imagery in this guide is provided with permission by Freddie Strickland.
What Are Your Earliest Memories Of Gardening?
“My earliest memories of gardening are helping my grandmother in her house in London,” shares Freddie.
“She discovered gardening in her fifties – so when I was a toddler, I helped her and in return I earnt some pocket money doing some monotonous jobs like tidying ivy off the walls and cleaning up leaf litter.
“It was a fun and adventurous start to gardening and I learnt then that gardening is a great way to spend time with people you love. From a young age I knew that gardening and people are very interconnected.
“Since my grandmother died, my mother has taken over the reins and I now garden with her.”
How Did This Then Lead To A Career In Garden Design?
“One of my biggest frustrations in life is that a career in horticulture wasn’t apparent to me from a young age; I only discovered it in my early 20s.
“The first time I became aware of garden design was when I had the opportunity to have my own garden in my early 20s. I felt a little bit like the dots all connected and I realised you could be creative in a garden – it was just a different type of canvas.
“It was a bit of a whirlwind from that point onwards and still is! Nothing else in my life has ever been more clear to me when I figured out that this was what I wanted to do, so I went to the Eden Project in Cornwall to study Garden and Landscape Design.”
How Did Your Background In Fine Art Contribute To Your Career In Garden And Landscape Design?
“It’s been very helpful,” he says.
“The course took me away from the idea of thinking solely about paint on paper and it encouraged me to think imaginatively about landscapes, and see garden design as an art form.
“You see artists who use land as their canvas, so it was very obvious that a career in garden design was an extension of this and the creative element that I was missing in my life.”
How Do You Approach A New Project?
“It really is people-based,” Freddie explains.
“I love to meet clients and get to the bottom of why they want to change their gardens. There will be a point where I leave and it’s down to the clients to enjoy their space, so it’s important for me to get to understand them and what they want from their gardens, no matter how big or small.
“I believe that home is a sanctuary and that the garden is an important extension of the home. It’s also a great way to connect people to nature, so I start projects by really getting to know the people that will occupy it so that the new design can truly meet their needs.”
How Did Winning The RHS Young Designer Of The Year 2021 Impact Your Career?
“Enormously. I now work for Balston Agius, having worked on a wide variety of exciting personal projects (all of which are pictured) before joining the team here. Winning the competition gave me great opportunities and gave clients more reassurance that they were employing someone who had been recognised at some kind of level.
“It was also a really great opportunity because I met some wonderful people in the industry, giving me connections to a world that before I was slightly on the outside of.”
Looking Back At Your Career So Far, Is There A Particular Project That You Are Most Proud Of?
“The obvious one was winning the RHS Young Designer of the Year award,” he continues.
“That was a lovely point of recognition for all of our hard work, including the many others that worked on the project and sponsors of the garden too. Since this award, I’ve enjoyed working on a wide variety of gardens, big and small.
“One garden that is developing well in only its first year is a personal project of mine in Dorset. Working with brilliant clients, we developed a 450m² planting area and introduced strong colour combinations over different seasons.
“It was a freeing moment for me as a designer as I had the opportunity to really go for it! I’m really happy with how that garden is turning out.”
How Do You See The Future Of Garden And Landscape Design Evolving?
“Our gardens are already having to adapt, and some plants are proving more resilient to these changes than others. We are seeing a softer approach to garden design; making more space for green, and less space for grey!
“New gardens need to thrive in these problematic conditions, but with this challenge comes opportunity.”
What’s Next For You?
“It’s head-down time more than anything,” Freddie says.
“It’s about getting great projects under my belt and trying to make a difference, creating worthwhile gardens that are new and exciting.
“It’s all about working with people, connections to nature and igniting joy from horticulture. I really want to look back on the gardens I’ve done and feel proud of them and the purpose they have served to both people and wildlife.”
