Historical Visitor Garden

Shakespeare's New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon

As part of a wider design team, I designed the central planting bed at Shakespeare’s New Place, the new international visitor centre created on the site of the playwright’s former home. This project offered a unique opportunity to deliver a contemporary garden design in a historical setting, creating a space that balances theatrical drama with contemplative beauty. The garden was conceived as a place of reflection and storytelling, with design elements that speak to the richness and emotional depth of Shakespeare’s work. My approach centred on a naturalistic planting scheme, using bold, contrasting plant forms and vibrant colours to evoke the spirit of his plays. The scheme features a diverse mix of perennials, shrubs, and bulbs to provide year-round interest, alongside autumnal tones that reflect the themes of change and introspection often found in his writing.

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At the heart of the design stands a striking educational feature: a series of steel flagpoles displaying the titles of all Shakespeare’s plays. This installation encourages visitors to move through the planting, engaging with both the landscape and Shakespeare’s literary legacy as the seasons shift. The planting bed not only enhances the theatrical quality of the site, with the well and other remnants of Shakespeare’s house, but also serves as a contemporary interpretation of his enduring cultural impact.