Meet The Team

Award winning garden designer MSGD / MBALI / BA

Initially trained as a fashion designer, establishing a boutique design consultancy working alongside High Street retailers to source, design and develop high end cosmetic and confectionery products. Patricia is known in the industry for her eye for detail and for masterminding those finishing touches which can transform a garden into an amazing space.

Bringing up her family in a rural landscape fuelled Patricia’s desire to hone her eye for design excellence into the horticultural arena, prompting her to study Landscape & Garden Design degree level at Writtle College.

In 2004 Patricia set up her landscape and garden design company Aralia and has been working on commissions from compact urban gardens, luxury roof terraces to large country estates, in both the UK and abroad. Patricia and the team have been awarded a string of prestigious National awards since 2009, and are critically acclaimed double Silver Medallists at RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a multiple winner of the BALI Landscape Design Excellence Award.

When not designing gardens, Patricia is an active commentator and writer, fulfilling many requests to share her expertise with commercial, media and charitable organisations.

BSc (Hons) Landscape and Garden Design, MSGD

Alastair’s enthusiasm and drive for designing gardens, stems from a deep understanding and appreciation of plants in their natural environments. Alastair heads up the design team here at Aralia and has a wealth of experience in designing and managing the build of highly innovative garden projects, in addition to larger scale complex landscape designs.

He has achieved MSGD (Member of the Society of Garden Designers) status in 2018,  now one  of fewer than 200 accredited designers in Europe. Attaining MSGD status is a very high professional accreditation which recognises his skills and experience across the range of disciplines involved in garden & landscape design. 

Alastair’s early career began with the study of horticulture, moving then into design at Writtle School of Design, gaining a 1^st class honours in Landscape & Garden Design.  He was awarded a bursary to fund travel to New York to study Urban Public Realms including the Highline. Alastair brings a wealth of experience to Aralia and an abundance of passion.

CMLI, MA Landscape Architecture, BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Lucy’s passion for Landscape Architecture stems from her academic studies, as well as her experience of working in a Chelsea award-winning plant and tree nursery. Lucy achieved a first class honours degree from the Writtle School of Design, and further augmented her design and professional practice skills by completing her MA in Landscape Architecture.  Lucy now has several years of experience within mainstream landscape architecture to call on, in addition to honing her design skills on more creative garden design projects.

Lucy has a deep appreciation of how people interact with landscape, and how the design of landscapes can improve quality of life. Her exposure to a range of large-scale commercial and private projects enables her designs to be multidisciplinary in approach. This in turn enables the holistic enhancement of the landscape to complement built form and the wider site context.

Lucy has recently become a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute and has been recognised as a leading talent in the industry at the 2019 Pro Landscaper 30 under 30 Awards.

MA Landscape Architecture, BSc (Hons) Landscape Architecture

Henry has developed his knowledge of landscape architecture and garden design over the years, with initial exposure coming from a practical hands-on role early in his career. After several years refining these techniques and building a strong knowledge base, Henry embarked upon an academic journey completing a landscape architecture BSc and MA degree formally underpinning his design rationale.

Since graduation, Henry has worked for a prominent multidisciplinary property consultancy giving him exposure to a large range of prestigious commercial projects, developing designs from initial concept, through to implementation and practical delivery on site.

Henry has developed a passion for innovative planting design during his professional career and continues to refine his palette to create uniquely beautiful places that foster positive health and well-being benefits for all.

Henry is currently on the Landscape Institute’s Pathway to Chartership, and on course to achieving full accreditation in 2020.  

Diploma in Garden Design, BA (Hons) 

After a City career in Marketing, Sam chose to focus on her passion of creating beautiful gardens and studied at the London College of Garden Design, achieving a distinction in the Garden Design Diploma. Sam’s love of the natural landscape combines with a sense of curiosity about how good design is achieved and a close eye for detail. She is fascinated by the discipline of planting design, in which the myriad possibilities of different and interesting planting combinations can produce vistas of intense beauty. Her designs often juxtapose strong structural layout with soft and effusive planting.

Sam’s first degree in Modern Languages led her to live and work in many different countries, giving Sam an appreciation for a wide range of cultures and landscapes. She has a plethora of skills that she brings to her garden designs, including a deep understanding of the human aspect that drives her to create gardens that closely fit her clients needs and desires. Sam believes in the power of a well-designed outdoor space to bring joy, as well as a sense of calm and serenity which is so vital. Her desire is to create gardens that reinstate a connection with the seasons and nature which is so often missing in today’s hectic modern world.

Matilda has been with Aralia since she was a very young pup, and has a firm position at the heart of the team. She likes to be involved in everything that goes on, dragging her bed into the middle of the office to be the centre of attention. 

Her enthusiasm for her work and for the surrounding landscape is evident, often bringing samples of various seedheads back with her in her fur after lunchtime walks around the countryside.

Matilda, a true creative, spends much of her time daydreaming and chasing flights of fancy, without much reference to the practicalities of landscape design. She is an inspiration to us all. 

(BSc / MSc Chemical Engineering)

With over 40 years of business experience Keith brings a wealth of financial expertise and business acumen to Aralia. Originally graduating from University with an MSc in Chemical Engineering, Keith has subsequently worked in various roles including cost accountant and operations director for a range of companies from Estee Lauder/Revlon/Max Factor to Marks and Spencer’s and Mars. Most recently his role has been managing director at a hugely successful manufacturing company based in London. Keith now heads up the financial and HR department here at Aralia, ensuring long term financial strategies and systems are on track for the company.