Dan Hartley is an award-winning garden designer in Hertfordshire, creating bespoke contemporary gardens and landscape designs for private residential clients across London, Hertfordshire, and the Home Counties.
Thoughtfully designed gardens, built to last
Every garden is designed to connect people with their surroundings, combining thoughtful planting, natural materials and timeless design to create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces.
From compact London courtyards to expansive country gardens, every project is carefully tailored to the architecture of the house, the character of the landscape and the way each client wants to live outdoors. The result is a garden that feels as though it has always belonged.
Trained at the prestigious KLC School of Design, Bloomsbury, and with experience working for leading UK garden design studios, Dan combines creative vision with technical expertise to deliver beautifully resolved gardens from initial concept through to construction and planting.
Award-Winning Garden Design
Dan Hartley is an award-winning garden designer based in Hertfordshire, creating bespoke contemporary gardens for private residential clients throughout Hertfordshire, London and the Home Counties.
Drawing on 30 years of experience spanning horticulture, garden design and construction, Dan brings a unique understanding of how gardens are conceived, designed and delivered. His background includes nine years developing specialist horticultural knowledge, six years designing bespoke residential gardens, and 16 years working within the construction industry as a draftsman and project manager.
After graduating from the KLC School of Design with distinction, Dan refined his design skills working with respected UK garden design practices, including Marcus Barnett Studio and Adolfo Harrison Gardens, before establishing Dan Hartley Gardens.
In 2024, Dan designed the Eco Oasis Garden at BBC Gardeners' World Live, where the project was awarded Platinum, Best Show Garden and Best Construction. He has also designed trade stands for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, reflecting the same commitment to thoughtful design, craftsmanship and attention to detail found throughout his private residential work.
Combining creative vision with technical expertise, Dan creates gardens that respond to their setting, architecture and the way people live outdoors. Working closely with trusted landscape contractors, he guides projects from initial concept and masterplanning through to detailed design, planting and construction support, ensuring each garden is both beautiful and built to last.
Projects
Garden and Landscape Design
From contemporary urban gardens to large country landscapes, every project responds to its setting, the architecture of the house and the people who will use it. Our portfolio demonstrates a wide range of styles, unified by thoughtful design, carefully considered planting and meticulous attention to detail.
About Dan
Professional Garden Designer
My childhood in Derbyshire was spent outdoors, climbing trees, swimming in lakes, and exploring the countryside.
Today, I run my own business, designing gardens in my home studio in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. I work with clients from London, Essex, Buckinghamshire and beyond.
Each project is a collaboration — drawing on my clients’ tastes, the needs of the site, and the rhythms of the natural world.