There’s a fairytale quality to Sophie Nichols’s work – a cast of tiny characters for whom a gentle push or the turn of a handle is the breath of life

In 1993 Sarah and Chris Vermont moved from Brixton, London, to Hungerdowns in Essex, an old farmhouse dating back to 1600 with a Georgian front added in 1757. In the garden there were existing hedges,

With an eye for design and craftsmanship, Kate Owen and her husband Luke restored a soulless property to create a cosy and characterful home perfect for nostalgic family festivities

Romantic planting with a sleek modern style creates a striking mix in this Hertfordshire garden

Placed in the garden, a sculpture invites us to pause and appreciate both its beauty and that of the backdrop around it

John and Jenny Brett have created an all-year garden design at St Mary’s, combining formal plant structures with colourful insect-friendly perennials, but in winter, when dusted with white and dancing with shadows, the garden shimmers