Designing gardens that become part of everyday life
Thoughtful garden design that transforms not only your outdoor space, but the way you experience your home every day
Full Garden Design
Thoughtfully designed gardens shaped around the way you live
Beautiful, resilient planting schemes tailored to your garden and its conditions
Expert advice to help you unlock the potential of your outdoor space
Planting Design
Garden Consultation
About BIG FISH Garden Design
BIG FISH Garden Design is the creative practice of Conor O'Donovan, an Irish garden designer based in South East London.
Conor's approach is shaped by an unusual combination of scientific rigour and artistic creativity. With a PhD in Molecular Biology and a background in medical communications, he brings analytical thinking and careful attention to detail to every project. Alongside this, his work as an artist informs his appreciation of composition, texture and colour, helping him create gardens that are both functional and beautiful.
Conor formally trained in Garden Design at Capel Manor College, bringing together his scientific background, horticultural expertise and artistic creativity to develop a distinctive approach to garden design.
Rather than beginning with a particular style, every project starts by understanding how each client wants to live in their garden. That understanding shapes every design decision, from the overall layout and choice of materials through to the planting that brings the garden to life.
The result is an approach to garden design that is thoughtful, collaborative and shaped around the people who will use it.
Conor transformed this neglected area of my garden with lots of imaginative planting. I am so pleased with it I have asked him to design a wildlife pond for my middle bed which I'm very excited for!
Lindsey N
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Our Approach
We believe gardens should become part of everyday life. The most successful gardens aren't simply admired from the house; they're lived in. They're where children play, friends gather, quiet moments are found and everyday routines become something to enjoy.
That's why every project begins with people rather than plants.
Before thinking about paving, planting or materials, we want to understand how you hope to use your garden. Whether you're looking for somewhere to entertain, work, unwind or reconnect with nature, every design decision should support the way you want to live.
Our designs combine scientific rigour, horticultural expertise and artistic creativity to create landscapes that are as practical as they are beautiful. By working with nature rather than against it, we create gardens that are resilient, support biodiversity and continue to flourish as they mature. Thoughtful planting, carefully chosen materials and a considered layout work together to create landscapes that enrich everyday life while respecting the natural environment.
Just as importantly, we believe the experience of creating a garden should be enjoyable. We work collaboratively, communicate openly and deliver on our commitments, building trusted relationships with our clients from the first conversation through to the finished garden.
For us, success isn't measured simply by how a garden looks on the day it's is completed. It's measured by how naturally it becomes woven into everyday life-encouraging people to spend more time outdoors, reconnect with nature and enjoy their homes in new ways.
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I am very happy with my new garden! Many thanks for the wonderful design, all the planting and other arrangements.
Jackie W
Garden Design Services
From complete garden transformations to specialist planting design and expert consultation, BIG FISH Garden Design helps homeowners across London and the South East create outdoor spaces that are beautiful, practical and made to be enjoyed
Full Garden Design
Thoughtfully designed gardens shaped around the way you live
Every successful garden begins by understanding how you want to live in it. Our design process guides your project from the first conversation through to a beautifully finished garden:
Planting Design
Beautiful, resilient planting schemes tailored to your garden and its conditions, whether for a new garden or for a refresh of an existing one
Expert advice to help you understand your garden, solve specific challenges and unlock the full potential of your outdoor space
Garden Consultation
Discover: Together we'll explore your ideas, aspirations and practical requirements to understand how you want to live in your garden, developing a clear design brief that forms the foundation of the project
Analyse: Every garden is unique. Careful site analysis helps us understand the opportunities and constraints of your space, from levels and drainage to soil conditions and aspect, ensuring every design is grounded in the realities of the site
Design: Thoughtfully considered designs, mood boards and drawings bring your vision to life while providing the information needed to turn ideas into a beautifully crafted garden. Technical drawings are produced where required to support construction
Build: A successful garden relies on careful execution. We can help you engage the right contractor for your project and work closely with trusted landscapers to ensure the finished garden remains true to the original design
Plant: See next panel
Understand: Every planting scheme begins by understanding your garden. We assess the aspect, soil conditions and surrounding environment to ensure every plant is selected for the place where it will flourish
Design: A detailed planting plan and plant list bring the scheme to life, allowing you to visualise how the planting will develop while providing everything needed for successful implementation
Source: Plants are carefully sourced from trusted specialist nurseries, ensuring healthy, high-quality specimens that establish well and provide long-term success
Plant: We carefully prepare the planting areas and position every plant according to the agreed design, giving each plant the best possible start and ensuring the finished scheme reflects the original vision
Aftercare: An easy-to-follow aftercare guide provides practical advice on watering, feeding, pruning and ongoing maintenance, helping your planting establish and thrive for years to come
Garden walkthrough: We'll explore your garden together, discussing your ideas, answering your questions and identifying opportunities for improvement. Whether you're looking for advice on planting, maintenance, layout or simply where to begin, the consultation is tailored to your needs
Consultation report: Following the consultation, a written report can be provided, summarising the discussion along with practical recommendations to help you move forward with confidence
We are absolutely delighted with our new garden, we can’t stop looking out the window! It honestly makes us so happy, and the design has exceeded all our expectations. You made the whole process so easy by listening to all our needs and wants. It really is the garden of our dreams.
Clare and Spencer
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Portfolio Highlights
Explore some stunning garden designs and vibrant planting solutions
From the outset, Conor took the time to really listen to what we wanted. He got to know us as a couple and understood how we hoped to use the space, which meant the final design felt completely personal and perfectly suited to us. Throughout the project he kept us updated, was consistently professional, and was happy to make adjustments whenever needed. The planting design is absolutely stunning. Conor created a scheme that gives us colour and interest all year round—something that was very important to us. Every time we look out of the window, we feel delighted. He’s designed a garden that will bring us pleasure for many years to come.
Jon & Melissa
We’re so pleased with our full garden redesign — it has completely transformed our home. He took the time to understand how we wanted to use the space and created the most beautiful dining area alongside a brilliant play space for our daughter. It’s functional, stylish and works perfectly for family life.
Andrea & Neal
★★★★★
★★★★★
Conor helped us from start to finish with our garden in south east London - turning what was (literally) a pile of rubble into a beautiful garden to enjoy. Conor is extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful, helping to shape ideas around your needs and requirements, to create a design and then a reality which is uniquely yours. We could not recommend Conor more!
★★★★★
Clare & Spencer
What our clients say...
There's no better measure of a successful garden than hearing how it's changed the way our clients use and enjoy their outdoor space
Get in Touch
Every great garden begins with a conversation. Whether you're dreaming of a complete transformation or looking to make better use of your outdoor space, I'd love to hear your ideas and discuss how we can create a garden that becomes part of your everyday life.
Call
+44 (0)7930 315 264
conor@bigfishgardendesign.co.uk
DESIGN
Thoughtfully designed gardens shaped around the way you live
Contact
conor@bigfishgardendesign.co.uk
+44 (0)7930 315 264
© 2025. All rights reserved. BIG FISH Garden Design® is a registered trademark of Conor O'Donovan
14 Rubens Street, London, SE6 4DH
PLANTING
CONSULTATION
Beautiful, resilient planting schemes tailored to your garden and its conditions
Expert advice to help you unlock the potential of your outdoor space