Fernhollow designs and builds considered gardens across East Sussex — from walled courtyards to coastal plots and estate grounds. Structure first. Planting that lasts.
Every Fernhollow garden begins with the ground itself — its levels, its aspect, the way light moves across it through the year. Anna Reeve's approach sets a strong structural skeleton first: stone, hedge, path, and wall that give the garden its bones. Planting is layered into that framework with precision and restraint, chosen for longevity and for the particular character of each site — whether a sheltered walled garden in the Weald or an exposed coastal plot above the chalk cliffs.
A neglected walled enclosure brought back into productive and ornamental use. Stone paths divide the space into quadrants; trained fruit lines the warm south-facing wall. Planting moves from cut flowers through herbs to a deep perennial border along the north boundary.
A steeply terraced plot above the chalk cliffs, exposed to prevailing south-westerlies. Flint walls step the slope into usable levels; planting is drawn from coastal and Mediterranean species that hold their form in wind and salt air.
A compact urban courtyard redesigned for year-round use. Pleached hornbeam screens the boundary at height; clipped structure anchors the planting plan. Shade-tolerant perennials fill the lower layers with texture and seasonal movement.
A large estate commission to restore and extend a wildflower meadow and manage the transition into existing ancient woodland. Mown paths create legible routes; the woodland edge is planted with native shrubs and spring bulbs to extend the season.
A farmhouse garden redesigned to sit naturally within the open downland landscape. Yew hedging creates enclosure and windbreak; a gravel garden planted with drought-tolerant species occupies the exposed south-facing slope. Planting palette drawn from chalk grassland species.
A long, narrow garden running to the river's edge, subject to seasonal flooding. The design works with the water rather than against it — an oak boardwalk lifts the main path above flood level; planting is chosen for moisture tolerance and for the reflective quality of the water.
We begin with a thorough site survey — levels, soil, aspect, existing planting worth keeping. Anna develops a concept that responds to the site's particular character and the client's brief, working through to detailed planting plans and construction drawings. Every project is designed by Anna…
Our own crews carry out all hard landscaping and construction work — stonework, paving, walls, drainage, irrigation, and soil preparation. Working with a single team from design through build means nothing is lost in translation between drawing and ground.
Planting is carried out by our team to the detailed planting plan, with Anna on site for key stages. We offer structured aftercare and maintenance plans to support the garden through its first years and beyond — the period when the design either fulfils its promise or doesn't.
A garden is not finished when the last stone is laid or the last plant goes in. It is finished — if it is ever finished — when it has had time enough to become itself.Anna Reeve, Fernhollow Garden Design
Fernhollow was founded in Lewes in 2014 by Anna Reeve, a garden designer with a particular interest in the relationship between built structure and naturalistic planting. The studio works across East Sussex — private gardens, walled courtyards, coastal plots, and estate grounds — taking on a small number of commissions each year to ensure each project receives the attention it requires.
Anna's approach is rooted in the belief that a garden's longevity depends on getting the structural framework right from the outset. Stone, hedge, path, and level are resolved before planting begins. The planting plan is then layered into that framework with care — chosen for the specific conditions of the site and for the way it will develop over years, not just seasons.
In 2022, Fernhollow was awarded a silver-gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. All design work is carried out by Anna; all construction is carried out by Fernhollow's own crews, working from the studio's base in Old Brewery Yard, Lewes.
The silver-gilt at Chelsea in 2022 was a measure of what the practice had been building toward since 2014 — a design language that is specific, structural, and deeply rooted in the landscape of East Sussex.
Anna and the team transformed a steep, awkward slope behind our house into three terraces we actually use. Thoughtful planting, immaculate stonework.
Professional from the first site visit to the final walk-through. They listened, they pushed back where it mattered, and the garden looks better every season.
Our courtyard in Brighton is now the best room in the house. Worth every penny.
Fernhollow takes on a small number of new commissions each year. If you have a project in East Sussex you'd like to discuss, we'd be glad to hear from you.
The studio is based in Old Brewery Yard, a short walk from Lewes town centre. We work across East Sussex and take on selected commissions in neighbouring counties. Site visits and consultations are by appointment.
Consultations and site visits by appointment only.