John Frater BSc(Hons), Dip GD

Plantforms has been set up by me - John Frater. After graduating in 1996 with a degree in Ecology I wanted to pursue a more creative livelihood. After some time travelling I settled into gardening, working in and around Edinburgh.

From 2000-2006 I was working at and eventually managing Dhanakosa Buddhist Retreat Centre in Balquhidder Glen. This was a wonderful experience and allowed me to pursue my interest in Buddhism pretty much full time. I also took on the extensive grounds there, developing the woodland, herbaceous borders, a cutting garden and an arboretum.

My training in garden design with the English Gardening School and the Institute of Garden Design was completed in 2006. As plants are the element of garden design I love the most I have decided to dedicate myself to this artful craft. Thus Plantforms was established in January 2007.

The ecological principle that all life is interconnected informs my approach to garden design. Not that my schemes are all naturalistic, rather that they fit their surroundings - the site, and the client equally.

Online planting schemes are a great way for the diy gardener to achieve excellent results. I am keen to develop this service over the years to give you access to quality designs without the expense of contracting a designer in the conventional way. I am also available to be contracted in this way by those who want a more personal touch and the subtleties that, unfortunately, cannot be achieved unless I visit the site.