About Us | Martyn Wilson
How a Lifelong Connection with Landscape Shaped an Award-Winning Cotswold Garden Designer
Based in Cheltenham, Martyn Wilson is the founder and lead garden designer at Wilson Associates Garden Design, bringing over 20 years of experience to residential, commercial and public landscape projects across the Cotswolds and beyond.
Gardens and nature have shaped Martyn’s life from an early age, and those twin passions continue to inform his approach to garden design today.
Time spent living abroad, both during childhood and while serving in the RAF, exposed him to a wide range of landscapes and garden styles, from the arid conditions of Sardinia to the clean lines and structure found in German and Dutch design. These influences are reflected in gardens that feel grounded in their setting while remaining practical and contemporary.
After leaving the RAF, Martyn studied geography and environmental management at the University of Worcester, combining academic study with hands-on experience at Sudeley Castle gardens. This was followed by a postgraduate qualification in spatial planning at Birmingham City University.
His professional background in flood defence strategies and surface water management continues to inform a considered, environmentally aware approach to garden design.
Martyn went on to study Professional Garden Design at The Cotswold Gardening School, before establishing Wilson Associates Garden Design. Since then, he has designed gardens throughout Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, alongside award-winning RHS show gardens and wider commercial and public landscape projects.
Today, Wilson Associates Garden Design applies this experience across a wide range of projects, creating gardens that balance creative ambition with practical delivery.
“Respect for the planet and beautiful, practical gardens can work happily together and it’s something I strive for in my designs.”
EXPERIENCE AND RECOGNITION
Martyn is an RHS Gold Medal winner and has designed multiple award-winning show gardens, including at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, RHS Malvern Spring Festival and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. His work has also featured on BBC Gardeners’ World.
Alongside show gardens, as a collective, Wilson Associates Garden Design has delivered commercial and public landscape projects, including work for Forest Garden Ltd and Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Experience gained through show gardens directly informs the design of real, usable spaces for private clients, ensuring creativity is always grounded in practicality.
OUR APPROACH TO BESPOKE GARDEN DESIGN IN CHELTENHAM AND THE COTSWOLDS
Every garden we design is shaped by how you want to live in it or experience it. These principles guide how we work, from the first conversation through to planting and long-term use.
Designed around you – Your garden starts with how you use the space, how much time you have and what you want it to feel like day to day. The design responds to your lifestyle, not a fixed style or trend.
Built to last – Structure, materials and planting are chosen to perform well over time. Gardens are designed to mature gracefully, remain practical and feel better with each passing season.
Rooted in place – Soils, setting and surroundings matter. Each garden responds to its location, whether that’s a Cheltenham town garden, a Cotswold village setting or a larger rural landscape.
Environmentally responsible – A respect for our planet sits at the heart of every project, from planting with pollinators in mind to practical steps such as recycling plastic pots through the Green Tractor Scheme.
YOU’RE IN SAFE HANDS
Martyn Wilson is a member of the Association of Professional Landscapers and a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers, reflecting an ongoing commitment to professional standards, best practice and continued learning.
