Ben Indulging a passion for nature with his dog, Soy, in the Lake District.

The Studio & Philosophy

Fig Garden Design Ltd is a bespoke garden design studio nestled in the rolling beauty of the Cotswolds. Driven by a profound love of nature and an inventive, practical spirit, the studio treats every project as a conversation between people and place.

We shape outdoor spaces around first impressions and emotional resonance. Our work blends thoughtful composition with room to breathe—crafting harmonious, memorable gardens that are made for living and sit effortlessly within their settings.

Our Story: Established in 2013

The foundation of Fig Garden Design was laid in 2013 when co-founders Ali and Ben crossed paths while studying at the Oxford College of Garden Design.

Their partnership sparked a client-centered practice built on complementary styles: Ali’s thoughtful intuition and Ben’s bold structural eye. Over the years, this collaboration blossomed into a studio known for creating gardens that genuinely respond to the way people live, entertain, and unwind. While Ali now focuses her energies elsewhere, she still returns for select Fig projects, keeping a shared sense of creative curiosity woven through everything we do.

Creative Direction & Horticultural Roots

Today, Ben is the creative heart of Fig Garden Design. He graduated from the Oxford College of Garden Design with Distinction, pairing design theory with a deep, practical background in horticulture spanning over 30 years.

Before launching the studio, Ben spent years building a hands-on understanding of plants while managing a Hillier garden centre and working in wholesale nurseries. That grower-level knowledge means his planting plans are always robust, resilient, and carefully suited to a site’s specific soil and microclimate. Over the years, he’s also enjoyed stepping into the exhibition world, including a decade-long run helping build the Hillier exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show between 2006 and 2016, as well as lending a hand at the inaugural RHS Chatsworth show.

Collaboration & Implementation

By listening closely and reading the unique layout of the land, Ben designs gardens that feel instinctive—as if they’ve always belonged. We balance open spaces for entertaining with quiet, secluded spots for relaxation, tailoring the landscape to fit your lifestyle.

Ben’s warm, approachable manner turns the design process into an enjoyable collaboration—full of conversation, ideas, and occasional laughter. Together we shape your vision, bringing it to life with imaginative, nature-led design that feels both personal and timeless.

Take a look at some of our recent projects.

Dining p[ergola next to Swimming pool and sun terrace
Cotswold garden gates entrance pathway lime stone setts
A lush garden with a stone pathway, various green shrubs and bushes, trees with bright green leaves, and a stone house with windows on the right, under a partly cloudy sky.
Swimming pool terrace with feture trees and sunny terrace
Entrance garden multi stem trees topiary planting garden path
Multi stem Acer underplanting grasses topiary ferns
Swimming pool and sun terrace with planting and trees
A garden scene with a stone bench, flowering plants, dark gravel ground, and a stone wall in the background. Part of a rust-colored fire pit or bowl is visible in the foreground.
Close-up of purple flowering plants in a green backyard with trees and a blue sky
Formal dining terrace view out cotswold meadow avenue trees
Woodland steps through cow parsley
Cotswold native meadow lake view back formal gardens
Topiary oak loggia entrance path cotswold garden
RHS Chelsea Gold medal from the 2015 show, for an exhibit at the show with which Ben helped.

RHS Chelsea Gold medal from the 2015 show, for an exhibit at the show with which Ben helped.