Sanctuary Gardens | Garden Design and Consultation

A refined garden consultation vignette laid out on a smooth oak table near a large window overlooking blurred greenery. Detailed, hand-drawn planting plans and elevation sketches are spread neatly, showing layered borders, specimen trees, and water features rendered in soft graphite and muted watercolor washes. Beside them rests a small collection of plant samples: sprigs of scented foliage, textured seed heads, and a single delicate flower placed on unbleached linen. Natural daylight spills across the table from the left, creating gentle highlights on the paper’s tooth and subtle shadows from the stems. Photographed from a slightly overhead angle with selective focus, the central plan is crisp while the edges softly fade. The atmosphere is thoughtful and sophisticated, combining design precision with tactile, ecological sensitivity in clean, photographic realism.

Rebecca Gregson

I first trained in Psychology at the University of Glasgow and went on to work within mental health settings, later contributing to wellbeing-focused projects in education and the arts. During those years, I became increasingly aware of how deeply our environments shape the way we feel.

My path into horticulture began while volunteering in Newcastle’s city parks. What started as curiosity about plants, wildlife and seasonal change quickly grew into something much deeper. I realised that tending and observing living landscapes offered a kind of grounded attention that felt both practical and meaningful.

I retrained as a horticulturist, gaining my RHS Level 2 at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Level 3 through Plumpton College. I have since spent five years working for the National Trust across the Derwent, Wear and Coast portfolio, caring for a range of gardens and historic landscapes. My experience has also taken me to other National Trust properties, Great Dixter, and into specialist propagation work within plant nurseries.

Through Sanctuary Gardens, I now bring together psychology, plant knowledge and thoughtful design. I create plant-rich, ecologically sensitive outdoor spaces that feel calm, personal and easy to live with.

I believe a garden should not only look beautiful, it should feel right.

What to expect

Working together, we can shape your garden into a space that feels calm, welcoming and truly yours; somewhere you want to spend time, not something that feels overwhelming or unfinished.

My approach is thoughtful and collaborative. I take time to understand not only your space, but how you live within it – your routines, your energy, your preferences, and what you hope your garden might offer you.

You can expect:

Careful listening
I won’t impose a signature “look.” Each garden begins with conversation, observation and sensitivity to context.

Honest, knowledgeable guidance
I’ll draw on my horticultural experience to help you make confident decisions, suggesting plants and materials that are suited to your space, lifestyle and level of maintenance.

Clarity and structure
Design can feel overwhelming. I break the process into manageable steps, so you always know what’s happening and why.

Respect for your pace and budget
Beautiful gardens don’t need to be rushed. We’ll work in a way that feels realistic and sustainable for you.

Ecological awareness
Wherever possible, I prioritise planting that supports wildlife, soil health and seasonal resilience.

My role is not to take over your garden, but to guide and shape it with you, creating a space that feels grounded, personal and easy to live with.

A narrow urban courtyard transformed into a lush, restorative retreat, enclosed by high, pale plaster walls partially cloaked in climbing greenery. A simple linear rill of gently moving water runs beside a path of slim, dark stone slabs, separated by soft groundcover planting. Tall, slender ornamental trees in large, matte ceramic containers add vertical structure without crowding the space. Cool, indirect daylight filters down from above, creating a calm, evenly lit environment with subtle reflections on the water’s surface. Shot from eye level at the courtyard entrance, the composition draws the eye inward along the water and path. Background details are softly focused to suggest privacy. The mood is quietly luxurious, intimate, and restorative, captured in photographic realism with a clean, modern yet organic aesthetic.

Philosophy and Approach

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An intimate corner of a sensory garden featuring a curved, low stone wall embracing a lush planting of aromatic herbs, feathery grasses, and velvety lamb’s ear leaves. A simple weathered wooden bench without cushions nestles into the curve, its grain and patina clearly visible. Soft late-afternoon light filters through overhead tree branches, casting dappled patterns across the bench and textured foliage. The camera is positioned at a slightly elevated angle, framing the bench on the right third and allowing the layered planting to fill the foreground. Shallow depth of field keeps the nearest leaves crisp while the background melts into a gentle blur. The mood is restful and reflective, with photographic realism and a quietly sophisticated, nature-focused atmosphere that invites unhurried contemplation.