Acres Wild - Garden and Landscape Design

An Acres Wild design consists of a bold underlying structure softened with full and naturalistic planting to reflect the tastes and requirements of our clients, their homes, and the wider landscape setting.

Over the years we have gained experience with a wide range of garden situations and many diverse clients. Being located in south-east England allows us the opportunity to design gardens set anywhere from the heart of London to the coast, from downland to woodland, on free-draining chalky and acidic soils to heavy wealden clay. Whilst much of our work is carried out Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Kent, we also work in London and nationally throughout the UK. Recent international projects include gardens in France, Spain and California.

Our aim is to create unique and timeless gardens with enduring appeal and a harmonious sense of place. This approach has resulted in numerous commendations and media interest.

Awards

These include: the 1999 BALI Principal Award for a private garden in Surrey, the first Hampton Court Flower Show (1990) trophy for Garden Design, a Business and Industry Commitment to the Environment Award, a Phoenix Award for Memorial Garden Design, the first Design and Decoration Award for Garden Design in 2004 for a courtyard garden in Earls Court (right) and again in 2005 for a country garden in West Sussex.

Media

Acres Wild have been featured in a variety of publications including The Times and Sunday Times, as well as magazines including Gardens Illustrated (Acres Wild July/August 2001, Design Showcase February 2002 and Inside Out May 2004), Landscape Design, The Garden Design Journal, Horticulture Week, Water Gardener, Ponds USA, Garden Inspirations, Sussex Life, The English Garden, Elle Decoration and House and Garden (Directory of Britain’s 50 Leading Garden Designers)

The directors along with various of their designed gardens have also been featured on television in the pioneer BBC series Gardens By Design, the southern arts programme The Pier and most recently The Garden Makers.

Publishing

‘Creating Garden Ponds and Water Features’ (HarperCollins 2001) was the first book authored, illustrated and photographed by directors Debbie Roberts and Ian Smith:

'...This is a book for the more creative gardener...who is looking for the ideas and inspiration to introduce something into their garden that is a bit different from the norm...' RHS The Garden 2001

'...Treat yourself to a visual feast in the pages of this lovely book. As practical as it is stylish...' Ponds Magazine USA 2002

Acres Wild designed gardens and photography have also been published in books including Contemporary Water Gardens, The Garden Book, Creating Gardens with Atmosphere, John Brookes Garden Masterclass and most notably The Modern Garden Makers (Ward Lock 1999) and British Landscape Designers and their Creations (Stichting Kunstboek 2004) where a total of ten gardens, designed and photographed by Debbie and Ian, are featured.

… Roberts and Smith seem adept at composing a series of interlocking spaces with linking water features, while considering the more philosophical elements of the relationship between a house and garden and the wider countryside…’ Penelope Hobhouse, Gardens Illustrated 2000

‘...these two have created some of the most successful contemporary country gardens in England…’ Sally Court, The Modern Garden Makers

Acres Wild were also profiled in the March 2005 issue of the Garden Design Journal - click here to see this profile.