About
Nick Burton and Duncan Hall met in 2019 while working together on a project in the Scottish Highlands. They bonded over a shared love of naturalistic planting and have been working together since. Both Nick and Duncan have spent time as head gardeners and are plant lovers, which is reflected in their work - they love to create gardens with plants at their heart.
Nick and Duncan work across Scotland and the UK on projects of varying sizes. Between them Nick and Duncan bring a detailed practical knowledge of designing, managing and maintaining gardens across Scotland and the UK. Their designs are carefully attuned to the needs of individual clients with a plant-focused approach that is simple and beautiful.
Burton Hall Garden Design carry out consultancy work as well as providing design services.
Nick Burton was raised in West Sussex where he started gardening at a young age. This life long passion stemmed from buying a Spider plant at his school fete aged seven. Nick took a keen interest in helping to look after his parents’ garden, which ultimately led to him studying Amenity Horticulture at Writtle College, Essex. After successfully completing college, Nick secured his first Head Gardener role at Painshill Park, Cobham and became an active part of the team restoring this 18th century landscape park. Keen to take on more responsibility and increase his plant knowledge, in 1995 he took up the position of Head Gardener to Rosemary Verey at her garden at Barnsley House.
Nick worked alongside Mrs Verey maintaining the much visited gardens and helped her on many of her garden design projects. After leaving Barnsley House Nick became Head Gardener at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire. This 18th century house had early 20th century gardens laid out by Nancy Lancaster. The gardens had fallen into disrepair and so Nick and his team of gardeners were charged with the task of rejuvenating the gardens. This was the perfect project for Nick to use his knowledge of garden history and garden design jointly in the same project. Notably Nick and his team restored the many large herbaceous borders and recreated a large cut flower garden within the Walled Garden.
The restoration received media interest with an article in Gardens Illustrated and pieces on BBC2 Gardener’s World and BBC Radio 4. In 2004 Nick moved to Herefordshire where he started working as a garden consultant and designer. He has also been working with one of the country's leading landscape contractors helping to plant up large and smaller scale landscape projects. This has meant working for some of the country's top designers. Nick has also helped build several main show gardens at the Chelsea and Hampton Court Flowers Shows.
Nick moved to Edinburgh in 2012 and has been working in Scotland since then.
Nick Burton Director
Duncan grew up in rural southwest Scotland where he developed a close affinity with his local landscape and discovered a passion in work as a landscape gardener. Inspired by this experience and by his love of plants, Duncan studied Horticulture with Plantsmanship at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. In Edinburgh his knowledge of practical garden maintenance was enhanced by a broader understanding of ecology, plant science and skilled horticultural techniques. Duncan subsequently went to Threave Garden in Dumfries and Galloway for practical training with the National Trust for Scotland before finishing his studies at Branklyn Garden in Perthshire. Duncan’s time with NTS broadened his knowledge of plants and gardening techniques while also developing his expertise on the successful management of different kinds of garden.
Shortly after completing his studies, Duncan secured a job at Cambo Garden in Fife as the Assistant Head Gardener. Cambo is a creative and experimental garden where he was able to explore and scrutinise varying approaches to planting design. During this time Duncan designed and developed parts of the garden alongside the Head Gardener. Duncan’s planting style is rooted in a naturalistic approach to design that traces back to his time at this experimental garden.
Duncan then became the Head Gardener at Aldourie Castle in the Highlands where he oversaw the creation and development of gardens designed by internationally renowned landscape architect and designer Tom Stuart-Smith. This project included the creation of a productive walled garden and ornamental castle garden. Duncan also created an orchard and began reinvigorating an old arboretum and extensive parkland with wildflower meadows under Tom Stuart-Smith’s guidance. Duncan was heavily involved in the management of this high-profile project, gaining valuable experience and honing his own distinctive approach.
Duncan moved back to rural southwest Scotland where he lives with his young family, having started working as a garden designer and consultant in 2020.
