01 · BRIEF
Understand how the space should work
We start with how you use the garden or driveway now, what needs to change and the priorities that should shape the project.
ABOUT HDL · HERTFORDSHIRE & SURROUNDING AREAS
A practical team for considered outdoor spaces
Hertfordshire Drives & Landscapes is a Hertfordshire-based team creating gardens, driveways and outdoor spaces for homeowners across the surrounding area. We combine practical experience, thoughtful design and a straightforward approach to create spaces that are made to be lived with and enjoyed.
WHO WE ARE
A local team that takes pride in the details
We work on residential gardens, driveways and outdoor spaces across Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas, from individual improvements through to complete transformations.
What matters to us is doing the work properly: understanding what the homeowner needs, being realistic about the site, communicating clearly and paying attention to the details that make a finished space feel considered rather than simply completed.
HDL is built around a team approach. Different people bring different skills to a project, but everyone is working towards the same result — an outdoor space that looks right, works properly and stands up to everyday use.
DESIGN & PLANNING
Design that starts with how the garden needs to work
Some projects begin with a clear direction; others need the garden to be designed from first principles. We start with how you want to use the space, how different areas should connect and what the property itself asks of the design.
Layout, levels, materials, planting, drainage and features can then be considered together rather than added one by one. That gives the build a clearer plan and helps the finished garden feel coherent rather than assembled.
FROM PLAN TO BUILD
Practical decisions carried through to the finished space
A good plan only works if the construction underneath it is resolved properly. Access, excavation, levels, drainage, sub-base, boundaries and the order of the build all affect what happens above ground.
Keeping those decisions connected with the design, materials, planting and finishing details gives the team on site a clearer route through the project and gives you a more consistent result.
HOW WE WORK
A clear route from first ideas to finished space
Every project is different, but the way we approach design, planning and delivery is deliberately consistent.
02 · DESIGN
Design the layout and details
Where design is needed, we develop the layout, levels, materials, planting and features together so the practical and visual decisions support each other.
03 · PREPARE
Plan the build properly
Access, drainage, groundwork, quantities, sequencing and existing site conditions are considered before the important construction stages begin.
04 · DELIVER
Build, plant and finish with care
Construction, paving, fencing, structures and planting are coordinated through to the finishing details, with communication kept clear as the project moves forward.
MEET THE TEAM
The people behind your project
Different parts of a project are led by people with different responsibilities, but the aim is the same: keep design, communication and delivery connected from the first conversation through to the final finish.
Thomas Berry
DIRECTOR
Thomas leads HDL and oversees the systems, standards and decisions that keep projects running well. He brings more than 13 years’ experience leading teams and delivering complex work.
Mia Large
OFFICE MANAGER
Mia coordinates enquiries, schedules, invoicing and day-to-day communication. She keeps the details organised so clients and site teams always know what is happening next.
Luke Chaplin
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Luke brings more than 30 years’ landscaping and project-management experience. He oversees installation, programme and site standards, giving every project a calm, experienced lead.
Pete Killingbeck
DESIGN MANAGER
Pete brings more than 20 years’ landscaping experience and a strong eye for materials, proportion and finish. He guides design decisions and helps carry the agreed vision through to completion.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
What our clients say about working with us
14 Google reviews
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions about HDL
Practical answers about how we work, the kind of projects we take on and what to expect when you get in touch.
Still have questions? Call our team on 01462 658 442 or click the button below:
We focus on residential landscaping, driveways, patios and paving, fencing, garden design and garden structures.
We are particularly well suited to projects where several parts of the outdoor space need to be planned and delivered together, rather than isolated minor maintenance work.
Yes. HDL can provide garden design and landscaping as one coordinated service, so layout, materials, planting and practical construction details can be developed together.
If your project needs design input before construction, we can discuss the right level of detail for the site and the brief.
Yes. If you already have plans from a garden designer or landscape architect, we can review them with you and discuss the construction, materials and practical requirements needed to deliver the project.
Different members of the HDL team may be involved at different stages, from the initial enquiry and survey through to design, planning and work on site.
The important part is that those stages are coordinated as one project, so information and decisions are carried through rather than treated as separate jobs.
We work across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. Our practical catchment is generally around an hour from Ickleford, depending on the project and location.
If you are unsure whether your property is within our working area, send us your postcode and a brief outline of the project.
Yes. Many of our projects combine design, groundwork, drainage, paving, planting, fencing, garden structures and other outdoor elements.
Planning these as one project helps the work happen in the right sequence and avoids important details being resolved too late.
Outdoor work can sometimes reveal conditions that were not visible before construction began. Where something changes the agreed scope, we explain what has been found, what it means for the project and any additional work required before proceeding.
The aim is to keep decisions clear and avoid committing you to unagreed extra work.
We first gather enough information to understand the type of project, the property and the location. From there, we can agree the most useful next step, which may include a call, a site visit or a design conversation depending on what the project needs.