How we work
Best of British Gardens is a small team of trained, qualified professionals headed up by Carlton Ridd. Our aim is to provide the complete package – from initial consultation through to the construction and completion of your project.
You can rest assured that your garden design will be workable and the project will be carried out to a high standard.
During the garden build, we will respect your privacy and try to keep any mess or disruption to a minimum.
Once work commences we aim to be on site until the project is finished (weather and materials permitting).
Carlton’s background
In the 1980s I studied at St Albans College of Horticulture in the UK, furthering my landscaping experience and plant knowledge by working for a garden centre. After a year out travelling around the world, I returned to the UK and started my own landscaping business.
My passion for garden design led me to study with the English Gardening School at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London where I obtained a formal qualification in design.
During the 1990s and early 2000s I designed and built gardens in North Devon under the business name ‘Gardens …’. But when I was given the opportunity to move to Australia in 2008 I jumped at the chance of taking the Gardens… brand and building outdoor spaces on the other side of the world. I gained a licence as a structural landscaper in both South Australia and Queensland and I was lucky enough to work on a diverse portfolio of projects.
On my return to the UK in 2015, having come ‘home’, it seemed fitting to rebrand the business as Best of British Gardens.
Over the decades I have designed and built more than 250 gardens in the UK and Australia, and I am pleased to say that it is still my passion.