Based in Norfolk, I am a professional garden designer in Norwich and Norfolk, specialising in transforming gardens into beautiful, functional, and environmentally friendly outdoor spaces. Working closely with clients, I create gardens that thrive in any space, whether large or small. My approach blends artistic hand-drawn concepts with advanced 3D computer imagery, allowing you to walk through your new garden before a single stone is laid.
My journey into garden design is rooted in a lifelong passion for the natural world. Before founding Richard Walters Garden Design in 2016, I spent 20 years as an Environmental Science Manager, leading global teams to map complex marine ecosystems. Today, I apply that same scientific rigor and mapping expertise to your landscape, ensuring that every planting plan is perfectly suited to your soil, climate, and lifestyle.
Qualifications
With additional qualifications in RHS level 2 Practical Horticulture and working towards the highly recognised RHS level 3 standard, I have an excellent grounding in horticulture knowledge to back up my design and mapping skills.
In addition to taking on my own garden design commissions, I also worked part time as a specialist garden design professional for a highly recognised garden design company, Timothy Garden Design. I continued to develop my Horticulture skills through contract work at the world famous RHS partner garden, The Vicarage Gardens, in East Ruston, Norfolk setting out planting schemes, arranging displays and general plantcare and maintenance.
I have produced a number of high quality garden designs in Norwich and Norfolk for satisfied Clients and have now achieved pre-registration within the elite Society of Garden Designers.
Previous Career
I bring a broad range of professional experience to my garden design work, combining my expertise in environmental science with a lifelong passion for creating beautiful and functional gardens.
In my previous career spanning nearly 20 years, I graduated with an MSc in Environment and Development in 1999. I then worked as an Environmental Science Manager for a multinational company, leading a large team of environmental scientists. Together, we produced detailed ecological maps of seabed habitats across the globe.
This experience gave me a deep understanding of ecosystems, mapping and planning — skills I now apply to designing gardens that are not only beautiful but also environmentally sensitive and perfectly suited to their local conditions.
Current Projects
I have completed a wide range of interesting and challenging garden design projects in and around Norwich and Norfolk. These include large-scale Mediterranean and English Cottage gardens and small gardens. I have also worked on commercial spaces such as care homes, and urban jungle-style projects incorporating shady and winter garden areas.
All the gardens I design are intended to be both aesthetically and ecologically pleasing, with year-round interest, seasonal fragrance, and careful consideration for the local environment.