Business Details
Sustainable Garden Design Services in Lancaster
Carpe Diem Gardens, founded by Jennifer Lauruol, is a specialist garden design and permaculture consultancy with over 30 years of professional experience. Our expertise lies in creating sustainable, wildlife-friendly gardens that harmonise with local architecture and biodiversity needs. We serve residential and commercial clients across the UK and Europe, offering tailored design consultations, construction management, and educational workshops. Jennifer's background in permaculture, therapeutic gardening, and habitat conservation ensures every project integrates ecological principles with functional beauty.Our portfolio includes award-winning sensory gardens, edible landscapes, and corporate sustainability initiatives. We collaborate with landscapers and contractors to deliver high-quality installations while providing ongoing maintenance guidance. Clients benefit from our commitment to environmental stewardship, evidenced by partnerships with organisations like the Permaculture Association and Garden Organic. With features in national publications and exhibitions at venues like Westonbirt Arboretum, we combine artistic vision with technical excellence to transform outdoor spaces into thriving ecosystems.
Services
Garden Design
Landscaping
Permaculture
Workshops
Coaching
Highlights and features
- 30 years of specialist experience in sustainable garden design
- Award-winning permaculture and sensory garden expertise
- Tailored workshops for community and corporate groups
- Collaboration with professional landscapers for quality installations
- Proven track record with heritage and public space projects
What people say
Fantastic work
Wonderful outdoor environment
Exceeded expectations
Delighted with design
Excellent workshop
Services
Garden Design
Our garden design service creates bespoke outdoor spaces combining aesthetic beauty with ecological functionality. We specialise in permaculture principles, edible planting schemes, and wildlife habitat integration. Each project begins with a detailed consultation to understand client needs and site conditions, followed by concept development and detailed planting plans. Our designs cater to residential properties, schools, care homes, and corporate premises, ensuring sustainable solutions that evolve with changing seasons and user requirements.
Permaculture
Permaculture consultancy forms the foundation of our approach, applying Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Shares principles. We offer design certifications, training workshops, and implementation guidance for domestic and commercial properties. Our expertise includes creating closed-loop systems for water management, composting, and food production. Clients receive practical solutions that maximise productivity while minimising environmental impact through regenerative design techniques and natural resource optimisation.
Workshops
Interactive workshops provide hands-on learning experiences for community groups, schools, and businesses. Topics cover sustainable design, edible landscaping, and horticultural therapy techniques. Sessions combine theoretical knowledge with practical application, empowering participants to implement permaculture principles in their own spaces. Customised programmes address specific client needs, from basic gardening skills to advanced ecological design strategies for professional teams.
Coaching
Personalised coaching sessions develop individual gardening capabilities through one-to-one instruction in clients' own spaces. We teach pruning, propagation, and planting design techniques tailored to specific site conditions. The programme builds confidence in managing sustainable gardens, with ongoing support for implementing design plans and maintenance strategies. Clients gain practical skills to create and maintain productive, ecologically sound outdoor environments.
Landscaping
Professional landscaping services transform conceptual designs into reality through managed construction projects. We coordinate hard landscaping elements like patios and pathways with soft landscaping for planting schemes. Our approach ensures biodiversity enhancement through native species selection and habitat creation features. Commercial projects incorporate staff training and maintenance systems to sustain long-term environmental benefits while meeting organisational operational requirements.
People
Jennifer Lauruol
Garden Designer
Jennifer has 30 years' experience in sustainable garden design, specialising in permaculture and therapeutic landscapes. She holds a Permaculture Design Certificate and NVQ4 in Management, with work featured in national publications and exhibitions. Her projects focus on biodiversity enhancement and community engagement through practical, ecologically sound design solutions.
Questions
What garden design services do you offer?
We provide full-service garden design including consultations, concept plans, planting schemes, and construction management. Specialisms include permaculture, edible gardens, and therapeutic landscapes for residential and commercial properties.
Do you provide permaculture training?
Yes, we offer workshops and coaching on permaculture principles, covering sustainable design, food production, and ecological systems for both individuals and organisations.
Can you design gardens for commercial properties?
We create tailored outdoor spaces for businesses, schools, and care homes, focusing on biodiversity, staff well-being, and sustainable landscaping solutions that align with organisational environmental goals.
What areas do you cover?
Based in Lancaster, we work throughout the UK and continental Europe, with particular expertise in northern England's climate and ecological conditions.
How do you incorporate sustainability?
Our designs use permaculture principles, native plants, water-efficient systems, and recycled materials. We prioritise habitat creation and food production to enhance local biodiversity and reduce environmental impact.
Are your designs suitable for small spaces?
Yes, we specialise in maximising potential in compact gardens, creating multi-functional spaces that combine beauty with productivity through clever design and vertical planting techniques.
