Meet the team

Barbara Samitier MSGD - Director

Barbara was born and bred in South of France moving between her beloved Esterel Hills, Grasse and Aix en Provence, never far from the Garrigue. She still draws inspiration from the Mediterranean Landscape, particularly an understanding that gardens and landscapes should be immersive, layered, tactile, and resilient. They should make you feel happy and appeal to all your senses.

She set up her own practice in 2012 having spent eight years working for an acclaimed international practice where she was involved with commercial and high-end private residential projects in the UK, France and Spain. 

She thrives on collaboration and design with her head and heart. She takes immense pride in delivering unique spaces that are just right for the client’s unique brief and feel anchored in their location. There is always a certain “je ne sais quoi”, a bit of magic in the gardens that she and her team create.

She strongly believes that gardens can be life-enhancing and can play a vital role in addressing the loss of biodiversity and Climate Crisis. She is a strong advocate for increasing sustainability in her field and sustainable living full stop.

Barbara is a fully registered member of the Society of Garden Designers.

 
 

Ella Scott - Landscape Architect

Ella joined the practice in December 2020. She graduated with honours from The University of Sheffield with an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture and Ecology in 2016. She then went on to complete her master’s degree at Birmingham City University, graduating with distinction and receiving the ‘Student whose work provides an inspiring vision for the future’ award for her thesis project.

Ella previously worked in the public realm sector for four years at acclaimed BD Landscape Architects, delivering a range of high-profile spaces throughout London and the UK including ‘The Meadow at Elephant Park,’ which won the Landscape Institute’s award for “Excellence in Place Regeneration’.

 Growing up, Ella spent a lot of her time on the North Norfolk Coast planning days around the rise and fall of the tide; hiding in flower filled gardens; launching boats off the slip way; climbing trees in the pine forest; exploring the creeks and islands at low tide; and watching her Grandpa pottering around in his greenhouse. During the summer in Norfolk, the heather of the coastal heathland turns hazy purple and giant hollyhocks tower while in winter the colours of the coastline dissolve into gloomy greys and deep greens.

 Her reference for landscapes is always underpinned by a sense of discovery, a love for nature and a respect for the bigger picture.

 

Dean Young - Landscape Architect - CMLI

 Dean developed an early passion for gardening, so much so that both his parents and grandparents entrusted parts of their gardens to his care from a young age. With this early sense of custodianship and inspired by the landscapes of North Wales where he grew up, Dean went on to study Landscape Architecture at The University of Sheffield.

 Following a move to London and with no garden of his own, Dean quickly sought out a space where he could cultivate. Here began his long association with Dalston Curve Garden. Having started out as a volunteer, and after completing RHS training, Dean is now resident gardener two days per week and runs a weekly volunteer gardening group. 

 As a Chartered Landscape Architect and Garden Designer, Dean has worked for several award-winning Architecture and Landscape Design practices. His portfolio of work includes a wide range of projects from community and school gardens to multi-million pound residential and urban regeneration schemes.

 Dean belongs to a rare breed of Landscape Architects with hands on horticultural knowledge and experience, hence his belief that design excellence must be informed by a thorough understanding of horticultural practice, and an appreciation for how a space is cared for and cultivated. He believes that a space must continue to thrive and evolve long after the Designer has left.

 

Kate Finch - Part Time Office Manager

 Kate is the team’s part-time office manager and plays an integral part in the day-to-day running of the business. This way the creative team can focus on designing beautiful gardens while delivering all our clients and collaborators a smooth service.

 Kate’s background is in communications. She spent the first 10 years of her career in the civil service before moving on to account direction for a media company and then office management for a small fashion advertising agency. During a career break to look after children, Kate studied garden design at Capel Manor and qualified as a bookkeeper. 

 Gardening has always been a keen interest for Kate, who grew up in the suburbs of London with a mum who could always be found in the garden. Kate now enjoys looking after her own small London garden and getting out to the countryside with family whenever time permits.

 At work Kate loves seeing projects develop from initial enquiry to completion, helping to ensure everything goes smoothly.