Last month Pro Landscaper’s UK Landscape Barometer discovered that there has been a significant increase in enquiries, projects, and conversion rates.

Overall, there was an average increase of 90% in conversion, 92% in projects, and 97% in enquires for garden designers and the design and build industry.

UK Landscape Barometer participants commented that they found the current average spend to be higher and that they are having to turn work away due to the huge increase in enquiries.

So – what has prompted such a swift increase in the interest of garden design?

Through-out the last year we have had to adapt to a new way of life. Being outside provided a hub where human interaction was still legal and was an element of where normality remained somewhat intact. One UK Landscape Barometer participant said: “I think the garden has become more important than ever.”

A team of researchers at the University of Cardiff found that people with access to a private garden reported better health and wellbeing during and after the first lockdown.

According to Global Data research, gardening was the second most popular lockdown activity, with many starting a ‘pandemic garden.’ Psychologists who have studied the effects of gardening on people’s wellbeing have found that it can help boost your mood and calm worries.

Garden designer, Peter Reader, said: “The pandemic has resulted in a significant increase in business. People are really valuing their outside space again and have enjoyed being in their gardens.”

As reported by The Horticultural Trades Association, spending has surged as people are trying to “make their gardens a place to enjoy with the family, in some cases as a holiday at home.”

Peter Reader added: “There has been a big increase in inside/outside garden designs. People want to do more day to day living outside and, with this new value for space, people are investing in their gardens as being a more viable thing and worth spending more money on than they previously would have felt comfortable with.”

It is evident that people are wanting to extend their home space, which illustrates precisely why inside/outside design is at a high. After multiple lockdowns, there is increased need for nicely designed garden space in the interest of socialising and mental health.

An increase in garden related TV shows seems to have perpetuated this even further.

Earlier this year the BBC launched the first season of “Your Garden Made Perfect.” Garden designers compete using cutting edge technology to reveal inspiring new designs that transform ordinary gardens. A majority of the transformations resulted in the creation of outdoor living rooms and UK Landscape Barometer participants mentioned seeing an increase in enquiries since the broadcast.

It is noticeable that the pandemic has positively influenced garden design after a surge in garden hobby adoption drew attention to the garden. After a long year of being restricted to outdoor space, especially when socialising, outdoor rooms are in demand.

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