Wild Sanctuary
Garden design and maintenance by Toby Travis, RHS-qualified gardener and designer. Specialising in creating and maintaining contemporary, naturalistic planting schemes using organic, wildlife-friendly methods.
RHS Horticultural Theory and Practice, Level 2
NOCN Garden and Planting Design, Level 3
"Since Toby took on our garden 16 months ago, it has, quite literally, blossomed. The patience, imagination and wealth of knowledge he has brought to both maintenance and development of the garden has absolutely transformed it, and it is a delight to see it taking shape."Rebecca, Warton
What we do
We design and maintain smaller gardens in which plants play the starring role, and wildlife is actively encouraged.
Combining practical horticultural knowledge (RHS qualified) with garden design training, we nurture plant communities which both look right together and thrive in the micro-climates of your garden.
We practise nature-friendly gardening methods - from simple things such as leaving leaves on borders and seed-heads in place over winter, to establishing mini-habitats such as small ponds or wild areas.
Our services include both regular maintenance and one-off design projects. We operate in Kendal and nearby villages.
"Toby is a knowledgeable plantsman, trustworthy and reliable. I’ve very much enjoyed working with him to develop ideas and planting schemes. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him."Emma, Kendal
Organic garden maintenance
We provide a wide range of regular maintenance services for the smaller garden, with a focus on:
- Border planning and maintenance
- Soil care and preparation
- Plant and bulb selection advice
- Shrub and small tree pruning
- Small vegetable plot management
- Plant propagation
- Living willow structures
- Small pond installation and planting
- Wildflower lawns
For regular maintenance we charge a £25 hourly rate (2023).
Our approach
Feed your soil
A thriving garden begins with understanding your soil and its needs. We often recommend adding large amounts of organic matter, such as mushroom compost, in the early spring. This adds nutrients, suppresses weeds and helps soil retain moisture through the season.
Right plant, right place
From damp, shady spots to dry, sunny banks it is vital to choose plants which will thrive in the specific growing conditions of your garden. Healthy, vigorous plants are naturally more pest and drought-resistent and can often be divided to produce more plants for your garden.
Garden and planting design
Are you looking to have your garden re-designed in a way that balances the needs of the people who use it and the wildlife which inhabits it? Do you want help creating a resilient, biodiverse garden which also expresses your own personality and tastes?
Planting plans
Producing detailed planting plans for your borders ensures that they look great through the year, while avoiding wasting time and money on plants which fail to thrive in your garden's conditions or only make a visual contribution for a short time.
Garden designs
If you want to remodel your whole or part of your garden, however small, we can produce detailed plans which can be used by landscapers as construction blueprints. We collaborate with you at every stage to produce a design which meets your aesthetic, practical and ethical requirements.
Kendal garden
We designed a complete garden layout and planting scheme for a small back garden as part of a renovation project. The challenge was to combine bird and pollinator-friendly planting alongside an occasional parking area, lawn for play and patio for entertaining.
Baslow community orchard
We were commissioned to produce plans and sketches for a proposed community orchard in a Peak District village. The designs helped secure local support and funding, and the orchard is now a much-loved and fruitful communal space.
"Moving house and gaining a wonderful wild garden I wanted help to achieve many different aims - gardening for produce, for wildlife, for safe play areas, and for beauty. Toby has offered lots of practical support, also listens to my ideas and suggests ways to plant imaginatively and support wildlife and create flow and balance in planting."Sally, Staveley
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