About Tessa
The studio is led by Tessa Tricks. Following 13 years in sustainable food and farming, Tessa pursued horticulture with an ambition to make the UK’s 23 million gardens biodiverse spaces for joy and restoration. It goes without saying that she has a passion for food growing and creating beautiful, edible gardens.
She holds a professional Diploma in Garden Design from the Bristol Garden Design School, where she graduated with Distinction. She has Level 2 qualifications from the Royal Horticultural Society and an MA in the Anthropology of Food, both Distinction levels. Tessa also has a Permaculture Design Certificate and is undertaking a diploma in Applied Permaculture Design, alongside an MA in Landscape Architecture. She is experienced in public speaking and reporting on environmental issues.
She has spent time living in Japan and studied Japanese Garden Design. Subsequently, she enjoys making the very most of small spaces and appreciates the Japanese garden’s reverence for nature and simplicity. She is a member of the South West Japanese Garden Society Committee.
Alongside domestic gardens, Tessa brings her ecological landscape design lens to school gardens, restaurants, and community spaces. No matter the space, her focus is to create beautiful, functional places which work for people and the planet.
Tessa is proud to collaborate with like-minded organisations and individuals such as Jason Loh, Snap Dragon Projects, and Green Bear Landscaping.
The studio
Tessa Tricks Design is a garden and landscape design studio based in Bristol. Our sensitive design is led both by nature, and your needs. We work with households, communities, and businesses on everything from small gardens to green roof design.
Our process tunes into the locality to create restorative, beautiful spaces. We're all about low-impact garden and landscape design that encourages biodiversity and works with existing resources.
Our range of services will help you to make the most of whatever space you have.
Our guiding principles
You come first
Realising an outdoor space that meets your needs is paramount. Every project begins with an interview to understand your wants and needs. These drive our design and inform every part of the process.
Work with nature
Our holistic design process considers the locality and local ecology to meet the brief while also leaving a positive legacy. Our Sustainability Policy outlines how we strive for sustainable garden design.
Keep it collaborative
We’ll work with those who share our values to achieve our vision. This includes you. Clear communication and the ability to co-design are central to our approach.
Style inspiration
A taste of what makes us tick. Follow us on social or see our selected projects for more garden ideas
