Meet the People Behind Dakic Garden Design

Dakic Garden Design is led by Jonathan and Briony Dakic, an award-winning husband-and-wife garden design studio based near Arundel in West Sussex.

With more than 30 years of combined professional horticultural experience, we combine creative design with practical knowledge to create gardens that are beautiful, functional and built to thrive for years to come.

Our backgrounds span historic gardens, plant production, domestic landscaping, garden maintenance and nationally recognised show gardens. Every project benefits from this practical experience, ensuring our designs don’t just look good on paper—they work in the real world.

We believe great gardens begin by listening. Every client, every home and every garden is unique, and our role is to create outdoor spaces that genuinely improve the way people live.

Garden Designer | Project Manager |

Then replace the biography with this.

Jonathan has spent his career understanding not just how gardens look, but how they grow, mature and become part of everyday life. His approach combines creativity with practical horticultural knowledge, allowing him to design gardens that remain successful long after the final plant has gone into the ground.

After studying horticulture and being awarded a degree by the Royal Horticultural Society, Jonathan gained experience working within respected organisations including the National Trust, RHS Wisley and private estates, before establishing his own horticultural business in 2018. Working with gardens of every size has given him a deep understanding of how people actually use outdoor spaces, helping him create gardens that are as practical as they are beautiful.

Jonathan’s background extends beyond design. Years spent maintaining and managing gardens have shaped the way he approaches every project, considering how planting will develop, how materials will age and how the space will continue to function for many years. This practical experience allows him to recommend solutions that are realistic, sustainable and enjoyable to maintain.

His passion for plants, design and continual learning has helped shape Dakic Garden Design into the practice it is today. From intimate planting schemes to award-winning show gardens, Jonathan’s goal remains the same: to create gardens that improve people’s everyday lives.

When he isn’t designing gardens, Jonathan enjoys visiting gardens across the country for inspiration, playing golf and continually sketching ideas for future show gardens and projects.

Jonathan Dakic

Garden Designer | Project Manager

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Briony’s passion for gardens began long before becoming a professional designer. Her extensive horticultural background has given her a remarkable understanding of plants, allowing her to create planting schemes that combine beauty, longevity and seasonal interest.

Her career has taken her through many areas of the horticultural industry, including production nurseries, garden centres, the National Trust and specialist plant propagation, giving her invaluable practical knowledge of how plants are grown, selected and maintained. This experience underpins every planting scheme she creates today.

Briony is currently completing her professional garden design training at the prestigious London College of Garden Design, having been awarded a highly competitive bursary place. Her studies continue to strengthen her skills in spatial design, technical drawing and presentation, complementing the practical horticultural knowledge she has developed throughout her career.

Naturally artistic from a young age, Briony enjoys developing ideas through hand sketches before refining them into detailed CAD designs. She believes the best gardens strike a balance between structure and softness, creating outdoor spaces that feel welcoming, relaxing and personal to the people who use them.

Away from the drawing board, Briony enjoys knitting, crocheting and exploring gardens for inspiration, always looking for new ideas that can influence future projects.

Briony Dakic

Why We Design Gardens (NEW)

(After both biographies.)

Why We Design Gardens

We believe gardens should be designed around people—not trends.

Every client lives differently. Some dream of entertaining friends outdoors, others want a peaceful retreat, somewhere for children to play, or simply a garden that feels easier to enjoy and maintain.

Our role isn’t to impose a particular style, but to understand how you want your garden to work before creating a design that reflects your lifestyle, personality and aspirations.

Great gardens aren’t judged by the day they’re finished—they’re judged by how well they’re loved for years afterwards.

Recognition

Over the past few years our work has received national recognition, reflecting our commitment to thoughtful design and strong horticultural knowledge.

  • BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair Platinum Award Best Beautiful Border People’s Choice Award

  • BBC Gardeners’ World Live Silver Merit Award People’s Choice Award

  • Featured on BBC Gardeners’ World television programme

  • London College of Garden Design Bursary Recipient

  • RHS Level 4 Qualified and RHS Wisley Trained

Our Journey

2008

Briony begins her horticultural career

Briony starts working professionally in horticulture, discovering a passion for plants, propagation and garden design that would shape her future career.

2010

Jonathan begins his horticultural career

Jonathan enters the horticultural industry, beginning a professional journey through private estates, historic gardens and nationally recognised organisations.

2012

Briony joins the National Trust

Working within one of Britain’s most respected gardening organisations, Briony develops her understanding of horticulture, historic landscapes and high standards of garden care.

2014

Jonathan joins the National Trust

Jonathan continues developing his horticultural knowledge while working on nationally important landscapes and gardens.

2015

Jonathan studies and works at RHS Garden Wisley

Jonathan is awarded a place to study at the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship garden while also working alongside some of the UK’s leading horticulturists.

2017

RHS awards Jonathan a full bursary to Japan

Jonathan is selected by the Royal Horticultural Society for a fully funded three-week horticultural study tour of Japan, exploring Japanese gardens, landscape philosophy and traditional horticultural techniques.

(I’d definitely include this. It’s incredibly unusual and immediately elevates your credentials.)

2018

Jonathan establishes his own horticultural business

Jonathan launches his own business, specialising in garden maintenance, planting and garden improvements throughout Sussex and Hampshire.

2021

Briony establishes her own business

Briony begins working independently with domestic clients, combining practical horticulture with an increasing focus on garden design.

2025

BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair

🏆 Platinum Award

🏆 Best Beautiful Border

🏆 People’s Choice Award

2026

Briony receives London College of Garden Design bursary

Briony is awarded a prestigious bursary to study Professional Planting Design at the London College of Garden Design, further strengthening the practice’s design expertise.

2026

Dakic Garden Design is founded

Jonathan and Briony combine their knowledge, creativity and experience to establish Dakic Garden Design.

2026

BBC Gardeners’ World Live

🏆 Silver Merit Award

🏆 People’s Choice Award

📺 Featured on BBC Gardeners’ World

Today

Together we combine over 30 years of professional horticultural experience with award-winning garden design, helping clients create beautiful gardens that thrive for years to come.

Tomorrow…

“We’re only just getting started.”

Let’s Work Together