3 Grazing Gardens Shaped by an Edible Planting Plan

A number of years ago, during a client consultation, our lead garden designer David found himself describing the garden we were designing not just as beautiful, but as edible—something you could stroll through and graze. Literally!

That moment sparked a phrase he’s used ever since: Grazing gardens.

It’s a simple idea with broad appeal. A grazing garden combines form and function, beauty and bounty. It’s about choosing plants that are not only easy on the eye but also palatable for the taste buds. From flowering herbs to fruiting shrubs, and even trees that double as design features and food sources, there’s a huge palette of options.

Over time, we’ve brought this approach into many of our garden designs. And the results? Gardens that look and feel good—and taste even better. In this article, we’re sharing three projects where we’ve brought the concept of grazing gardens to life.

But first, you can read our guide to creating a grazing garden of your own.

Project 1: Fruitful Planting in Bramhall, Stockport

In this family garden in Bramhall, we had a generous footprint to work with—perfect for transforming a tired, unloved space into an adventurous haven for play, entertaining and seasonal living. The brief called for a modern and inviting garden that felt connected to the environment, with plenty of practical planting the client and their family could enjoy and pick from throughout the year.

At the heart of the design is a thoughtfully positioned pergola and dining area, which frames a central vista of raised beds, a soft lawn and sculptural gabion baskets that cleverly conceal a secret garden play area. The raised beds are filled with a blend of ornamental grasses, evergreen structure and pollinator-friendly perennials for our little friends, interwoven with useful edibles that are just as good for the humans.

Instead of a separate herb patch, we integrated fragrant culinary herbs like thyme, rosemary and fennel directly into the main planting beds, keeping the space both productive and aesthetically rich. The standout feature? A trio of fruit trees—apple, pear and the unexpected but thriving ‘Brown Turkey’ fig, which you may not know is perfectly suited to the North West of England when given shelter and sun. These trees offer structure, spring blossom, shade and, most importantly, a delicious summer-to-autumn harvest.

Project 2: Edible Borders in Lydgate, Oldham

Not all grazing gardens need to be large. This one in Lydgate, Oldham is the perfect proof.

The brief was to create a garden that was low maintenance but full of seasonal interest and practical use. The clients loved the idea of edible planting and were open to something beyond the typical herbs and lettuces.

We planted a vibrant mix of wild strawberries, not only because they provide creeping ground cover that’s pretty to look at but produce small, incredibly flavourful fruit too. These wild varieties are worlds apart from their supermarket counterparts, as they are intensely sweet, aromatic and fun to “stumble upon” when you’re out in the garden.

In addition, we incorporated raspberries, blueberries (grown in ericaceous compost within raised beds to meet their soil needs) and rhubarb. Each of these adds structure, colour and seasonal variety to the garden. Plus, they’re all rewarding to grow and harvest.

The blueberries in particular are a favourite of David’s for grazing gardens. In spring, they flower with delicate white blooms. In summer, they produce berries. And in autumn, their leaves turn a vivid red—three seasons of visual interest from one edible plant.

Project 3: Family Foraging in Marple Bridge

In this estate garden project in Marple Bridge, the clients had young children, so the design had to be both playful and practical. They were also keen to reduce the size of their lawn and instead maximise planted areas—with a strong preference for a garden they could interact with.

This made it the perfect candidate for a grazing garden with a family-friendly twist.

We wove in wild strawberries once again—perfect for little hands to find and pick—and used clusters of herbs like mint and chives around the seating areas, where their fragrance could be enjoyed close up. But we didn’t stop at the obvious choices! We also added lavender, not just for its scent and pollinator appeal as well as its culinary and household uses. Dried lavender can be used in baking or homemade tea, and it also makes excellent drawer sachets to naturally repel moths.

Then there were the nasturtiums, whose bright flowers not only pop visually, but bring a subtle peppery flavour when added to salads. Kids love picking them, adults love eating them—what more could you want?

A few weeks after the project was completed, we received a message from the clients: a weekend snapshot of their children picking strawberries from the garden we’d freshly planted. It’s moments like that make the work of a garden designer so worthwhile!

Create a Grazing Garden

We love helping people see their gardens not just as something to look at, but as something to live in, engage with and taste from. That’s what great garden design is all about.

If you’re thinking about turning your garden into a grazing garden, we’d love to bring your vision to life. Reach out to us or connect with David on LinkedIn to find out how we can help.