AN AWARD WINNING TEAM
At Bestall & Co we pride ourselves on making the process of designing and building your dream garden as stress free as possible. We understand that your time is precious, which is why all our meetings are planned to a strict timetable to ensure you are kept up to date with developments and have as much or as little involvement as you desire.
From the first time we visit your site, we’ll begin to develop a relationship that, in time, will ensure we have a full understanding of what you need from your new outside space. It’s important that the completed project works for you and your family and that the new garden is beautiful and practical, after all we’re not just designing a garden, we’re creating a whole new surrounding for your home.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our mission is simple. To create inspirational gardens and landscapes, where exquisite plant combinations compliment the best quality hard landscaping materials.
We aim to create a living landscape that will change the way you view and use your outdoor space. A beautiful location for you to entertain friends, relax with family and enjoy life outside. It’s a mighty claim, but at Bestall & Co we believe we don’t just design gardens, we change lives. We pride ourselves on making the process of designing and building your dream garden as stress free as possible.
We understand that your time is precious, which is why all our meetings are planned to a strict timetable to ensure you are kept up to date with developments & have as much involvement as you desire.
From the first time we visit your site, we’ll begin to develop a relationship that, in time, will ensure we have a full understanding of what you need from your new outside space. It’s important that the completed project works for you and your family and that the new garden is beautiful and practical, after all we’re not just designing a garden, we are creating a whole new surrounding for your home.
MEET YOUR TEAM
DIRECTORS
Lee Bestall
Director of Innovation
Our founder Lee Bestall has been designing and managing the construction of gardens for twenty years and his genuine passion and enthusiasm are infectious. Lee operates within all aspects of Bestall & Co, focusing on growth & innovation within the business. He is regularly featured in gardening and outdoor style magazines, and has a history of collaboration with the BBC, most frequently being the stand-in presenter of BBC radio Sheffield’s Gardeners Question Hour.
Paula Bestall
Director Of Client Experience
Paula is our Director of Client Experience. After 21 years in education, she waved farewell to headship in September 2022 and brought her experience of leadership and management over to Bestall & Co. Paula oversees our clients’ journey and helps to guide them through the different stages of our design process to achieve the best possible experience for them, nurturing relationships with people both in and around our business.
Jamie Mellor
Director of Operations
Jamie joined us in August 2014 bringing with him a wealth of operational and project management experience. Beginning his career as an event manager, Jamie sees the creation of each garden as ‘the main event’. Today, he organises all of the scheduling & finance for implementation & planting, imports, deliveries and more, ensuring all of our projects are completed efficiently & to the best standard.
DESIGNERS
Emily Barnes
Garden Designer & Project Lead
Emily joined Bestall & Co in Autumn 2019 after collaborating with Lee and the team at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in 2019. Emily was the proud winner of BBC Radio Sheffield’s ‘Design a Garden’ competition which involved designing a show garden to represent the unique culture and heritage of Sheffield which went on to win the coveted RHS People’s Choice Award. Today Emily works between home and the head office, producing quality design work with our signature style and also conducting project management.
Emily Kaye
Garden Designer
Emily joined the Bestall & Co Design Team in October 2022, bringing with her several years of experience in the garden design industry. This experience has allowed Emily to help the business innovate and expand the design process while she herself has become a valued member of the team, encouraging each of us to be better every day. In her own time she teaches yoga in Sheffield & brings this wisdom to work, hosting an in-house yoga session each week.
SOFTSCAPE TEAM
Jon Orridge
Planting & Exterior Styling Team Member
Jon joined the Bestall & Co planting and aftercare team in Spring 2021 and is training to become a knowledgeable planting expert. Before joining the team, Jon worked in Marketing and Graphic Design for over 10 years, and found himself wanting a change of pace. This swap in careers lead him to try something completely new, so he joined the Bestall & Co team, becoming a positive leader & contributor to the business.
Thomas Willey
Planting & Exterior Styling Team Member
Thomas joined the Bestall & Co planting and aftercare team in January of 2020 as a planting trainee, coming straight from college where he earned a diploma in Horticulture with the RHS. Soon after, Thomas became our Planting & Exterior Expert due to his talent & care for plants and flowers, always achieving high quality results. Today, he continues to work with and train the planting team on a day-to-day basis.
Ashley Reynolds
Planting & Exterior Styling Team Member
Ashley joined the Bestall & Co team in July of 2023 as a planting trainee and implementation trainee. Ashley moves between the planting & styling team and the implementation team whenever necessary due to his range of skills. Most recently Ashley was a Head Chef, sharing a love for cooking and bringing with him excellent resilience & problem solving skills.
HARDSCAPE TEAM
Dave Thompson
Implementation Team Leader
Dave joined the Bestall & Co Hardscape and Groundworks team in September 2022 as the head of the team, bringing with him 6 years of experience in the landscaping & construction industry prior to joining. Today, Dave manages & implements the hard landscaping required for our projects while continually putting big smiles on the faces of his colleagues and our clients.
Christian Breen
Implementation Team Member
Christian joined the Bestall & Co Hardscape and Groundworks team in November 2022. Christian graduated university with a degree in Film in 2020, but due to the pandemic sought other endeavours, becoming experienced labourer with over 5 years of experience on site, bringing with him knowledge of construction & development. Today Christian operates alongside Dave Thompson, making up our in-house hardscaping team.
Jordan Waring
Implementation Team Member
Jordan joined the Bestall & Co Implementation team in September 2023, coming from owning his own landscaping business for over 5 years. Thusly, Jordan brings a wealth of experience & skills in landscaping. His admirable dedication to the quality of his work makes Jordan a welcome member of the Bestall & Co team. In his spare time Jordan is an accomplished professional fighter, so don’t be alarmed if he appears with bruises.
(Discover more coming soon)
CLIENT EXPERIENCE TEAM
Harvey Dyson
Brand Master
Harvey joined Bestall & Co in June 2021 as our Digital Marketing Apprentice. Having come straight from a specialist media college, he spent the first two years of his time with us studying for a digital marketing qualification. Graduating in April 2023, Harvey now works as our Brand Master conducting a wide range of brand development duties – handling all marketing, photo & video, graphic design, online customer service as well as developing the website. (Hi there!)
ASSOCIATES
Marion Leclerc
Independent Garden Designer
After two separate work experience placements with us, Marion recently graduated in November 2017 from Agrocampus Ouest, a French higher education institution as Landscape engineer and Landscape designer. During the 5 year course, she studied the science of landscape and exploring the wider world of plants.
Owen Hayman
Guest Blogger
Owen joined the Bestall & Co planting and aftercare team in spring 2019 as an RHS qualified horticulturist, holding a full Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture, and landed himself in the top 3 at the Northern Regional Final of The Young Horticulturist of the Year 2019. Owen is currently training and working at RHS Wisley, and still writes for us as a guest blogger.
AWARDS AND ACCREDITATIONS
RHS Chatsworth Flower Show 2017
Silver Gilt
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017
Silver
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016
Silver
Harrogate Flower Show 2015
Gold & Best in Show Award
RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015
Silver
Grand Designs Live 2012
Principle Winner
Harrogate Flower Show 2012
Gold
BBC Gardeners World Live 2006
RHS Tatton Park Flower Show 2005
Silver
Society of Garden Designers
Fully Registered Member
THE DESIGN PROCESS
Land Survey
A full topographical survey from our land surveyor detaining boundaries, levels and existing features
Site Analysis
Our designers gather further information and make observational notes, including identifying existing trees and shrubs and obtaining soil samples
Concept Plans
Clarification of your brief at this stage normally results in a near perfect concept plan. You’ll be presented with colour 3D images of the proposed scheme
Drawings
Including the general arrangement, setting out plans, drainage plans and specification drawings for standard and bespoke features
Planting Plans
To create a beautiful garden plants are key. This is our guide to plant quantities and variety, essential for setting out on planting day
Lighting Plans
Detailing individual lighting locations, cable routes, light effects and product specification, we also show you how your garden will look at night
Project Realisation
Essential to turn the vision into a reality. We work with either your builders and landscapers or ours
Aftercare
We want to help protect your investment and offer a variety of aftercare plans including training your current gardeners