White hydrangeas in bloom with a brick archway in the background.

Creating home sanctuaries

BOTANIC SHED GARDEN PROJECTS

Well-manicured garden with circular lawn, fountain, and small brick structure surrounded by tall hedges and trees.

Botanic Shed creates sanctuaries—transforming gardens into spaces of beauty, balance, and well-being. Through expert design, consultancy, and nature-based experiences, we reconnect people with the healing power of the natural world.

“Inspired by my Cotswold farmhouse childhood and tropical twenties spent in the Grenadines, I garden and design and manage garden renovations. I began my creative career working in design studios on shoots for Vogue magazine with royal photographer Mario Testino. I then worked with a landscaping firm while studying for the RHS Diploma in Horticulture. l work as Head Gardener at a number of private gardens and support the teams at others including The Old Rectory a garden heralded as one of the most beautiful in England.” Lara Cowan

Our Services

  • Garden Services

    Dedicated proper plant care from gardeners who are trained and guided by consultants and designers.

    Garden maintenance covers pruning, garden clearance, garden renovation, hedge planting, hedge cutting, topiary pruning, lawn care, planting borders, beds, pots and propogation. With a strong focus on wildlife friendliness.

  • Garden Consultancy & Geomancy

    Horticultural direction from consultants trained by the RHS (inc. MHort) and Great Dixter, includes reporting.

    Garden consultancy covers a garden audit, visions for your garden, planting schemes, plant sourcing, ecology studies, tree, wild meadow and kitchen gardens management. Geomancy is earth divination and healing (acupuncture).

  • Garden Design

    Creative direction and landscaping to renovate, restore or start your garden anew.

    Garden design involves the creation of a space that works beautifully, visually and functionally for you the user. We have a strong artistic and nature loving background and specialize in creating calm and healing sanctuaries.

Originally a mother & daughter team

Botanic Shed started as a mother-daughter enterprise. Lara and Tehya have grown plants and gardened together for years. Today they run a friendly garden design and management consultancy and professional garden maintenance team across a variety of projects.

Their portfolio includes architect-owned modern builds and historic private homes. In 2022 they started working at England’s most beautiful Old Rectory in Berkshire, as feat. in Country Life.

Projects

  • Pangbourne garden

  • Pangbourne garden

  • Enbourne garden

  • Henwick garden

  • Henwick garden

  • Henwick garden

  • Pot plant design

  • Hermitage garden

  • Tutts Clump garden

  • Berkshire woodland garden

  • Pangbourne garden

  • Lara dowsing on the moors

  • Hermitage garden

  • Ashampstead Common

  • Norreys garden

  • Pangbourne garden

  • Team Diana, Karen and Lara

  • Old Rectory woodland

  • Tydhams garden

  • Enbourne garden

  • Pot planting design

  • Enbourne garden

  • Newbury garden

  • Pot planting design

  • Bere Court Road

  • Compost bin building

  • Old Rectory Driveway

  • Former pub Upper Basildon

“I love creating tranquil spaces that talk to us on a spiritual level and greatly improve the experience of being alive.

Person with long blonde hair lying in a field, smiling near a basket filled with chamomile flowers.

Lara

We work with

  • Journal of Biophilic Design

  • Resurgence and Ecologist

  • National Garden Scheme

CONTACT

A vase of pink tulips, two candle holders with tall candles, a potted plant, and a framed photo are atop a decorative table. A framed insect picture and a mirror are on the wall.