Recently someone asked me what the health and well-being benefits of a designed garden actually are. It took me a moment to articulate something I'd always taken for granted. Everyone knows gardens are good for you, right? But why?

I've had more than a few client meetings, usually towards the end of a cup of coffee, when someone says, "I just want somewhere I can sit and switch off." Not a wish-list of plants, not a pergola, not even a lawn for the dog. Just somewhere to switch off. I used to think this was a slightly evasive answer. Now I think it might be the most honest one.

The trouble is, an unplanned garden rarely delivers this. You look out the window and instead of a sanctuary you see a to-do list written in weeds. Thoughtful design is what converts a garden from a demanding domestic chore into something that actually gives something back.