Our mission at the Yorkshire School of Garden Design is to deliver professional, accessible, enjoyable and in-depth courses in the heart of Yorkshire. Renowned garden designer Alistair Baldwin spent over twelve years as an academic teaching landscape architecture and garden design and with 25 years under his belt as a practicing designer he has established a centre for garden design and horticultural excellence based at Harewood House, one of England’s Treasure Houses.
We believe in nurturing through example and to that end all our courses are delivered by practicing professionals who give students behind-the-scenes insights using projects from their own design portfolios along with real-life scenarios and challenges to learn from. All our courses will also benefit from direct access to the 100-acre gardens at Harewood House with their enchanting collections of species from around the world.
We are offering a range of courses to choose from. Our menu of Short Courses are aimed at those looking to dip their toe into the wonderful world of plants and garden-making, including taster courses for aspiring professional designers. Our flagship Diploma in Garden Design is a one-year part-time course with two days-a-week of contact with tutors. The Diploma gives students a thorough preparation for the challenges and rewards of professional practice. Learn from the professionals and expand your mind in a beautiful setting.
YSGD Founder and Principal Tutor Alistair Baldwin has assembled a team of lecturers, studio tutors and guest speakers from the leading edge of their professions around the globe. He believes passionately that students should learn from those who practise what they preach, giving them a genuinely relevant and current learning experience.
Principal tutor and garden designer
Liz Rawlinson is both a qualified and experienced teacher and practicing garden designer. She has spent several years teaching her craft at a design school in London and is returning to her home county of West Yorkshire to join Alistair as Principal Tutor at YSGD and continue her practice as a designer.
Plantsman
Head Gardener at the iconic York Gate Garden in Leeds and renowned plantsman. Ben has recently established Cliff Bank Nurseries in Yorkshire where he will be growing a wonderful range of perennials and grasses for sale to garden designers and the public.
Photo: Eva Nemeth
Garden designer and author
Ula has an international reputation as a designer of great sensitivity and atmosphere. Her books include the highly successful ‘Green – Simple Ideas for Small Outdoor Spaces’
Photo: Nicola Stocken
Garden designer and author
Matt has won numerous show garden medals around the globe and his contracting company Rosebank Landscaping is responsible for some of England’s most influential modern gardens.
Photo: Chaz Oldham
Garden designer
Pollyanna is creating show gardens at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Festival 2022 and RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 and has a growing international reputation for her sophisticated designs and strong eye for colour.
Garden designer
Mark is Managing Director of Landform Consultants Ltd and in his time he has built close to 100 show gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, winning countless Gold medals and People’s Choice awards for gardens designed by some of the worlds most finest.
Garden designer and author
Jack studied at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh and after a spell in the creative industries in London he moved to Hebden Bridge in the heart of Yorkshire. Jack has carved out an enviable niche as a successful garden designer, public speaker and author since setting up his own design business in 2018. He has penned a number of critically acclaimed books including ‘Wild about Weeds – Garden Design with Rebel Plants’, the ‘RHS Gardener’s Book of Patterns’ and latterly the excellent ‘A Greener Life’. In 2019 he won ‘The Times Gardening Book of the Year’ and has written for The Telegraph, The Guardian and Gardens Illustrated.
Garden photographer
Eva Nemeth is known the world over for her stunning photographs of gardens created by some of the leading lights of the design profession. She has been published internationally on numerous occasions in Gardens Illustrated and House and Garden, her work instantly recognisable by its effortless subtlety, grace and quality of light. We’re delighted that our students will have the chance to spend time with one of the worlds greats, learning one to one in a beautiful setting.
Food growth consultant
Rachel is currently completing her PhD in Plant Molecular Biology at the University of Sheffield specialising in crop improvement and food sustainability. She has built a formidable following on her hugely successful Instagram account @rachels.allotment and accompanying blog, both of which provide an informative insight into the bounty that flows from her highly productive allotment in Sheffield.
