ABOUT US
Emma Pearson and Tom Dawson have worked together for over fifteen years, originally running a respected garden design and maintenance practice in the South -West. Their portfolio included large private gardens, country estates and projects for the Duchy of Cornwall near Bath.
Now based in Sussex, they bring this extensive experience to their home region, offering refined landscape and garden design, specialist consultancy and ongoing horticultural care. Their work is guided by strong horticultural knowledge, rigorous training and a calm, meticulous approach, creating gardens that are elegant, enduring and beautifully tailored to place.
Emma Pearson MSc
Emma has worked professionally in horticulture and garden design since 1999. She first trained with the Women’s Farm and Garden Association before studying garden design and planning at Lackham College, establishing a strong foundation in both practical and creative horticulture.
For many years she ran a successful horticultural business in the South-West, specialising in garden design, consultancy and full project delivery - from concept and planning through to landscape construction, planting and ongoing care.
In 2013, Emma completed a Master’s degree in the Conservation of Historic Gardens and Cultural Landscapes at the University of Bath. This advanced training deepened her expertise in heritage landscapes and led to work across a range of period and historic gardens, where she provided specialist consultancy, research and design input.
Alongside her professional practice, Emma has considerable experience teaching gardening and garden design, sharing her knowledge with students, gardeners and property owners alike.
Her interests lie in the historic environment and the management, development and restoration of larger gardens and estates - landscapes that require a sensitive, long-term, deeply informed approach.
Tom Dawson
Tom combines extensive horticultural experience with a refined, practical understanding of how gardens function and evolve over time. He is RHS Level 3 qualified and has worked in gardens of all scales - from intimate private plots to complex country estates.
Tom is part of the gardening team at Charleston Farmhouse Garden in Sussex, working alongside the Head Gardener in one of Britain’s most recognisable and culturally significant landscapes. This daily involvement with a historic, artist-led garden has given him a distinctive eye for structure, rhythm and atmosphere, as well as a deep respect for craft and authenticity.
Before moving into horticulture, Tom built a successful career in commercial photography and film. This background developed his natural sensitivity to composition, light and detail - qualities that now inform his approach to planting design, pruning, problem-solving and garden management.
His practical knowledge spans meadow creation, ecological planting, maintenance planning, plant husbandry and long-term estate care. Tom’s calm, methodical style and strong technical skillset make him particularly adept at guiding clients through both the aesthetic and practical decisions required to create gardens that thrive.
