About Us

Robert Ketchell has over 30 years of designing and creating gardens in the UK and beyond. He initially trained in horticulture at Askham Bryan College of Horticulture, York, and then subsequently worked for several years in Kyoto, Japan, as a garden apprentice. This unusual background has allowed him to draw on both garden traditions and an ability to blend both western and eastern approaches to garden creation, which gives his gardens a distinctive and enduring quality.

He has worked on projects for both private and commercial clients in Britain, Europe, the US and Japan.

2019

Commissioned to create an extensive new garden for the Dojima Sake Brewery , near Newmarket, Cambs.

2012-2018

Numerous commissions to create new gardens completed.

2018

Awarded Order of the Rising Sun with Golden Rays and Rosette by the Japanese government in recognition of promoting Japanese garden culture in the UK.

2016

Commissioned to restore several sections of a historic Japanese garden at Cottered, Hertfordshire. This work will be carried out in several phases of a period of time.

2012

Appointed Japanese garden consultant to Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, and tasked with the redevelopment of the tea garden Fugetsu-an.

2011

Design for new garden project for Willowbrook Hospice.

2010

Garden of Contemplation at Norwich Cathedral, to compliment new Hostery building opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

2010

Garden of Sionna. A garden for the World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland.

2007

Garden of Reflection and Reconciliation for Willowbrook Hospice, England.

2004

Commissioned to create a large themed garden for children at Spalding, England.

2003

Wrote and directed video documentary film, Shishu ('Poetic Beauty'). A study of the Japanese garden tradition (available through www.worldspirit.org.uk).

2001

Author of 'Japanese Gardens in a Weekend', published by Hamlyn Press, which appeared in several imprints and has been subsequently translated into several languages. Also published numerous articles for magazines and periodicals.

1998-2000

Garden of the Ox and Oxherder, designed and created for Osmosis Spa, Sonoma County California.

1997

Founding committee member of the Japanese Garden Society, now a 700+ member organisation. Served as Editor of Shakkei, the Society magazine, and also as Chairman for seven years.

2005-2006

Garden project at Walkden Gardens, a public garden in Manchester, England.

1995

Tea garden, 'Fugetsu-an', and Tea house at Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, hotel and restaurant near Oxford, England.

1994-1996

Teaching and lecturing at the School of Oriental Garden Studies, Tatton Park, Cheshire, England.