George Stone Gardens
The Orchard
Budget Reference
The Vision
A Complete Garden Transformation
This document is designed to give you a clear sense of the overall investment involved in bringing this garden to life — generous paved entertaining spaces, new lawns, composite decking, garden walls with bespoke water features, and considered planting throughout.
Scope of Works
What We're Working With
Here's what the current design includes. Everything below is on the table for discussion — elements can be scaled, swapped, phased, or adjusted as we work through priorities together.
Your New Terrace
A generous porcelain terrace in Ash Beige — laid on a full engineered sub-base with clay soil stabilisation, geotextile membrane, and grouted finish.
Garden Walls & Steps
Low retaining walls and steps built on poured concrete foundations with pump truck delivery — providing structure, level changes, and definition to the garden.
Water Features
A collection of bespoke aluminium water tables and troughs, creating focal points and adding movement and sound throughout the garden. Installed on dedicated concrete pads.
New Lawns
Premium Festival turf throughout, with metal edging for a crisp, contemporary boundary between lawn and planted areas.
Composite Decking
Ecodek Signature composite decking in Midnight Black — low maintenance, long-lasting, positioned adjacent to the gym for a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.
Gravel Areas & Metal Edging
Gravel surface with full hardcore sub-base and geotextile membrane, framed by 150mm metal classic edging for a refined contemporary finish.
Planting Scheme
Prepared planting beds with quality topsoil and compost mix, ready for your selected planting scheme to bring the garden to life.
Fencing, Waste Management & Sundries
All necessary fencing, full waste management throughout the project (skips, grabs, and site cleardown), toilet facilities, and sundry materials to ensure a clean, safe, and professional site from start to finish.
Investment
Budget Guidance
To help you plan, we've grouped the works into broader categories with approximate budget allocations. These figures will sharpen once we've had our conversation and locked down final choices — but they give you a reliable sense of the scale of investment across each area. All figures exclude VAT.
| Area of Work | Budget Allowance |
|---|---|
|
Terrace & Paving
The largest element — approximately 196 m² of porcelain (currently Ash Beige 900×600) on a full engineered sub-base with clay stabilisation and grouted finish. This figure is sensitive to paving choice and any adjustments to the paved area.
|
c. £72,500 |
|
Water Features & Bespoke Elements
Aluminium water tables, water troughs, stone spheres, and all associated concrete pads and installation. There's real flexibility here — the number, size, and specification of features can be adjusted to suit.
|
c. £30,000 |
|
Walls, Steps & Structure
Approximately 23 metres of low retaining walls and steps on poured concrete foundations. Provides the level changes and garden structure. Scope here depends on final levels and finishes.
|
c. £11,500 |
|
Lawns, Edging & Gravel
Around 262 m² of new Festival turf, approximately 71 metres of metal edging, and gravel areas. These create the framework between hard and soft landscape.
|
c. £16,500 |
|
Decking
Approximately 30 m² of Ecodek composite decking (Midnight Black) adjacent to the gym. Low maintenance with a long lifespan. Could be scaled up or down.
|
c. £6,000 |
|
Planting & Bed Preparation
Around 160 m² of planting beds prepared with topsoil and compost. Note: this covers the bed preparation and soil — the plant supply itself will be a separate conversation once the planting scheme is designed.
|
c. £2,500 |
|
Fencing & Waste Removal
Boundary fencing, all waste removal (skips, grabs), and site cleardown. Waste costs are driven by excavation volumes across the groundworks and paving phases.
|
c. £4,500 |
|
Project Management
Dedicated project management throughout the build — scheduling, ordering, client liaison, cost reporting, supplier coordination, and quality oversight. Costed at a management day rate across the 16-week programme rather than absorbed invisibly into labour rates.
|
c. £9,000 |
|
Site Preliminaries
Weekly site running costs for the duration of the programme: vehicle and fuel, welfare facilities, consumables, and small tools. Charged per week the project is on site — transparent and proportionate to programme duration.
|
c. £4,500 |
|
Contingency
An allowance for unforeseen conditions, design adjustments during the build, and any additional works that arise on site. Standard practice on a project of this scale.
|
c. £10,000 |
Overall Budget Envelope
c. £165,000 – £170,000
Excluding VAT · based on current design · site preparation excluded
c. £198,000 – £204,000
Including VAT at 20%
This range will narrow as we finalise choices together.
Plant supply costs are additional and will be agreed separately.
Industry Context
Your Investment in Context
Landscape projects vary enormously depending on the materials and level of detail involved. The industry works to three broad specification tiers — use the slider to explore how each one affects the overall budget for a garden of this size.
Durable, well-chosen materials with clean construction throughout. Natural stone paving, timber decking, seeded lawns, and established shrubs. Simple boundary treatments and well-prepared ground. A professionally built garden that will last — just without the elevated finishes or bespoke elements of the higher tiers.
This is where material choices, detailing, and thoughtful design come together. Porcelain or limestone paving, metal lawn edging, turfed lawns, rendered or stone-clad walls, and carefully planned lighting. The garden feels intentional — every surface and transition has been considered.
Everything is bespoke. Natural stone or custom porcelain, mature statement planting, fully integrated pergolas with heating and lighting, high-specification outdoor kitchens, automated irrigation and smart controls. Every element is made to measure and the garden is designed as a complete outdoor living environment.
The Orchard includes porcelain paving, bespoke water features, engineered sub-bases, and retaining walls — placing it firmly in the Signature specification tier. At £350/m², the project sits at the lower end of Signature pricing, which means you're getting a design-led, elevated specification at a very competitive rate. All costs are benchmarked against SPONS External Works rates and the GardenCOSTS national database — the industry-standard references used across UK landscape construction.
Programme & Milestones
Your Build Experience
We'd anticipate around 12 weeks from mobilisation to completion, weather permitting. Site preparation is handled ahead of our start by your builders. Click through each phase below to see what we deliver, how far along the project will be, and the expected payment at each stage.
How We Work
Built for the Best Possible Result
A garden like this deserves to be built once and built properly. Our approach exists for one reason: to give you the best possible outcome — openly, fairly, and without compromise.
Craftsmanship in every detail
The difference between a good garden and an exceptional one is often in the decisions made on site — adjusting a level when you see it in person, getting a detail right that makes a space work, solving a problem properly rather than taking a shortcut. Our open-book approach means those conversations happen naturally, without the rigidity of a fixed contract working against the quality of your garden.
Complete design, build & aftercare
George Stone Gardens is an RHS Gold Medal-winning practice with a team trained by the very best in the industry. We design it, we build it, and we're here to look after it. That continuity matters — it means every decision during the build is made by people who understand the design intent, not just the construction method. You're investing in a team that delivers gardens of this complexity properly, safely, and to a standard that lasts.
You see every pound
We work on an open-book basis. Every material cost, every labour day, every delivery and supplier invoice — you see it all, as it happens. Our management fee is agreed upfront and declared openly. There are no hidden margins and no opaque lump sums. Transparency isn't just our policy — it's your protection.
Nothing is spent without your say-so
Things come up during every build — ground conditions differ, you see something on site and want to adjust it, or a better idea emerges. When that happens, we talk it through, agree the cost together, and only proceed once you're comfortable. You have full control over every significant cost before it's incurred.
Regular reporting, no surprises
You'll receive regular updates showing what's been spent, what's committed, and how the project is tracking. If anything moves, you'll know early — with time to make decisions, not after the money's been spent. Beyond the initial deposit, payments are made monthly against actual work completed.
Budget Management
How Costs Are Controlled
Transparency without a process is just information. Here's the system that keeps the budget on track — and has done across ten years of projects like this.
Budget set per section
Before each phase begins, we agree the budget for that section based on the finalised scope and current supplier pricing. Material quantities are confirmed against the bill of quantities, and supplier quotes are locked in as far ahead as possible — giving you a firm number for each phase, not just an estimate.
Supplier prices fixed at point of order
Material costs are moving at the moment — fuel surcharges, supply chain adjustments. We manage this by locking supplier prices at the point we place each order, not months in advance when they may have changed. Where a supplier offers a fixed-price window, we'll note the expiry date so you know exactly what's guaranteed and for how long.
Live cost tracking against budget
Every cost is assigned to its budget line as it's incurred. You'll receive regular reports showing spend against each section. If anything moves more than 10% above or below the section budget, we flag it specifically — with an explanation and, if it's an overrun, a recommendation for how to manage it.
Contingency managed, not spent by default
The contingency allowance is there for genuine unknowns — difficult ground, design adjustments, things that come up on every project. It is not there to absorb scope creep or poor planning. Our objective is to deliver this project on or under the budget envelope. If contingency isn't needed, you don't pay it.
Additions and changes tracked separately
If you decide to add something, change a specification, or expand the scope during the build, it's costed, agreed, and tracked as a separate line — clearly visible alongside the original budget. You'll always know what you started with, what you changed, and what it cost. No blurred lines.
Aligned Interests
A Team That's Invested in Your Outcome
Milestone bonuses
1% of the overall project budget is set aside as performance bonuses for the build team — funded from within our management fee, not as an additional cost to you. Half is paid when each phase milestone is completed on programme and to the agreed quality standard. The remaining half is held back and paid on successful completion of the project within the original programme.
This means the people building your garden have a personal stake in delivering each phase on time, to the right standard, and finishing the project as a whole within the agreed timeframe. Their interests and yours are the same.
Things to Talk About
Your Questions, Our Conversation
This budget is a starting point. Here are some of the things we'd like to explore with you before we firm anything up.
- Site preparation — this budget assumes your builders will complete site clearance, excavation, and levelling ahead of our start. We'll coordinate the handover to make sure the site is ready for us. If that arrangement changes, we can add site preparation back in — allow c. £14,500 for a project of this scale.
- Planting — the budget covers preparing the beds, but the plants themselves haven't been specified yet. Once the planting scheme is designed, we'll agree that cost separately. It's a great opportunity to invest as much or as little as feels right to you.
- Paving choice — we've based this on Ash Beige 900×600, but Platinum Grey is the same price point and a different feel. Worth looking at both. A limestone sett could also work for height transitions between areas.
- Water features — currently four features scoped (two tables, two troughs). These are a significant part of the budget and there's real flexibility — we can scale up, down, or swap specifications to hit the right balance of impact and investment.
- Phasing — we can build this in one go or stage it across two or more phases if that suits your timeline or budget. We'll talk through how that works in practice.
- Lighting — not currently included. If you'd like garden lighting, it's something we can scope and add. It's much easier to run cables during the build than retrofit later.
- Additions & changes — this is your garden. If you want to add something, take something out, or shift budget between areas, that's exactly what this conversation is for. Nothing is locked in until you say so.
What Our Clients Say
Gardens That Speak for Themselves
We've built hundreds of gardens across Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. Here's what some of our clients have to say — including projects with similar scope and complexity to yours.
George-Stone helped us design a transformational landscape scheme for our rear garden which included an eye-catching water feature, large patio, trees and lighting. Andy and his hardy team battled through the winter months and delivered a high quality result on time. They are a good team to work with and I'm happy to recommend their services.
The team at George-Stone Gardens are very courteous, polite — and not at all intimidated by a large project. High standards (especially around our specialist stone work) were impressive. The team was professional, personable and hard working. They are also willing to take the time to source the right products and bring in new options when required.
Kirsty and her team did a fantastic job on re-landscaping our back garden. The quality of the dry-stone walling in particular is amazing and admired by everyone visiting. The team were extremely polite and personable and very hardworking. I am planning on using George-Stone again next year to tackle the front garden.
We are so pleased with our new garden design. Our garden is now so much more usable for entertaining and as it develops will provide us with year-round interest. Just what we wanted. The aftercare has been excellent. We have appreciated the follow up visits and plant care advice. A couple of minor issues have been dealt with quickly and efficiently.
A fabulous result brought about by a fabulous team! From the planning to the realisation of the final effect, Kirsty and her team were communicative and always willing to help. It was great to see a boring area of sloping grass transformed into a multi-tiered garden complete with patio and fully planted.
Selected Projects
Work of a Similar Scale
A selection of completed projects from our portfolio — including large-scale paving, water features, stone walls, and considered planting. Click any image to view the full gallery.
Selected commercial and media clients
Your Team
The People Behind the Build
George Stone Gardens is an RHS Gold Medal-winning practice. Our team's credentials span show gardens, royal estates, and hundreds of private commissions across the Cotswolds. Here are the people who will deliver your garden.
Your main point of contact for the project. Ian leads George Stone Gardens with a commitment to excellence rooted in the company's ethos of creating gardens that people love to spend time in. RHS Gold Medal winner. The team's show garden at RHS Tatton Park was featured on BBC Gardeners' World — a reflection of the construction quality delivered on every project.
Manages scheduling, supplier coordination, cost reporting, and programme delivery. A wealth of plant knowledge and extensive industry experience — Kirsty excels at selecting the right suppliers and materials tailored to each project's needs and budget. She oversees the design, landscaping, and maintenance teams to ensure top-quality delivery on every project.
Callum has worked in every role in George Stone's operations and has deep knowledge of what it takes to execute landscaping at the highest level. His RHS Gold Medal was awarded for achieving what the judges described as "a near faultless construction." He oversees every design-led project to ensure the level of quality and attention to detail meets his exacting standards.
Laura's training began at the Royal Gardens at Highgrove under some of the country's foremost horticulturalists. She honed her skills on private estates throughout the Cotswolds and with the National Trust, before studying under Robin Templar-Williams (a five-time RHS Gold Medallist) at Bristol Botanical Gardens. Her designs are well-considered, balanced, and ecologically mindful.
Over 30 years' experience and a permanent consultant and mentor to the George Stone teams. 7 RHS Gold Medals, 14 Best in Show, and over 30 RHS medals in total. A key figure in the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIHort), British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), and the Garden Media Guild (GMG). He has overseen the construction of hundreds of domestic, commercial, and show gardens.
Over twenty years' experience in exterior and interior design and project implementation. Liz works closely with landscape designers, construction teams, and clients to ensure the smooth progression of projects and the achievement of a superior finish. Her meticulous approach brings the designer's concept and the client's vision to fruition with exceptional finesse.
Watch the Build
RHS Tatton Park 2023 — The Balanced Garden
Our RHS Gold Medal-winning show garden, designed by Amy Gunning and constructed by the George Stone Gardens team. Featured on BBC Gardeners' World from 5:17.
Watch on YouTubeAccording to the Telegraph, a well-designed garden adds up to 20% — or £60,000 — to a property's value. This is an investment in your home as much as your lifestyle.
After the Build
Warranty, Aftercare & Ongoing Support
Completing the build is the beginning, not the end. We stay involved to make sure your garden establishes beautifully and performs as it should.
Establishment Maintenance
The first two years are when a new garden needs the most attention. We offer a dedicated maintenance contract — four visits a year to check planting is establishing, drainage is performing, and everything is settling as it should. Allow c. £3,500 per year (c. 3% of contract value). We'll include a detailed proposal alongside the build programme.
Defects Liability Period
A six-month defects liability period covers workmanship and materials from the date of practical completion. If anything we've built develops a fault within that period, notify us in writing and we'll put it right at our cost. This covers construction defects — not issues arising from subsequent use, maintenance, or third-party work. Full details are set out in our Terms & Conditions.
Plant Care & Replacement
At handover, we'll provide guidance on establishment watering, seasonal care, and pruning for every plant we've specified. Any plants that fail within 14 days of completion are replaced at our cost. Beyond that, plant establishment depends on proper ongoing care — which is one reason we recommend the maintenance contract alongside the build.
Long-Term Care
Most of our clients stay with us well beyond the establishment period — lawn care, seasonal planting, hedge management, and keeping everything at its best as the garden matures. No obligation, but the option is always there.
Contract Terms
Terms & Conditions
All works are carried out under our standard Terms & Conditions, which are provided in full with the contract documentation. These are designed to protect both parties through clear and transparent working practices. Key points to note:
Consumer cancellation right —
You have the right to cancel within 14 days of agreeing to the contract, without giving
any reason, in accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. If you request
that works begin within the 14-day period, the right to cancel is waived once works commence.
Payment terms —
A mobilisation payment is required ahead of the start date to secure materials and supplier
pricing. Stage payments are due within three days of invoice. The final account is due
within seven days of practical completion.
Defects liability —
Defects arising from faulty workmanship or materials must be notified in writing within
six months of practical completion. Plants that fail within 14 days are replaced at
our cost.
Additional works —
Any works beyond the agreed scope are treated as additional works, costed separately,
and require your agreement before proceeding.
Disputes —
In the event of a dispute, both parties agree to attempt written resolution within 14 days
before pursuing legal remedies.
Governing law —
England and Wales.
Full Terms & Conditions are provided with the contract for your review before signing. Nothing in our terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.
Next Steps
Ready When You Are
If you're happy with the scope and comfortable with the budget envelope, we can get the ball rolling. If you'd like to talk anything through first — scope, phasing, material choices, or anything else — we're equally happy to do that.
Once you confirm, we'll agree a start date and arrange the mobilisation payment. Monthly payments thereafter are based on actual work completed, each with a full cost report.
No Rush
Still Thinking It Through?
That's completely fine. Have a read through at your own pace, talk it over, sleep on it. When you're ready — whether that's to proceed, to ask questions, or to explore changes — we're here.