BALI Principal Award Winner · 2022

The Stroke Recovery Garden

Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds

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BALI Principal Award Winner 2022
Google 5/5  ·  116 Reviews
Facebook 5/5  ·  46 Reviews
RHS Harlow Carr  ·  Chapel Allerton Hospital
Explore First Light's Portfolio

Crafting unique, high-quality landscapes that inspire people to love and enjoy their gardens.

A Leeds-based design studio working at the top of the Yorkshire garden design market — from private gardens in Roundhay and Horsforth to the Stroke Recovery Garden at Chapel Allerton Hospital and RHS Harlow Carr.

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We started First Light in 2007 with a simple idea — to design and build gardens we'd be proud to walk into ourselves. Eighteen years later, with a team of eighteen and a BALI Principal Award on the wall, that idea hasn't changed.
Liam Pickering & Neal Baker Founders & Directors — Friends since school
Selected Work

Featured Projects

A small selection of the gardens we have designed and built across Leeds, Yorkshire and beyond. Each one began with a brief and a budget — and grew from there.

View The Full Portfolio  →
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Years  ·  Since 2007
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Designers & Craftspeople
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5-Star Google Reviews
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Principal Award 2022
Client Stories

What Our Clients Say

Every one of the testimonials below is a real client — and every one has filmed a video testimonial that lives on our website. Drag to browse, or hover to pause.

Mr Martin Horsforth, Leeds

“It felt like a collaborative process”

We are going to enjoy this garden now for years.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Matusevicius Horsforth, Leeds

“Their input really helped us achieve the look”

I don't think it would have happened without them.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Ms Weekes Horsforth

“Quite simply, they were fantastic”

From initial contact through to every interaction.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Mannion Boston Spa

“I've never seen people work so hard”

The finish is brilliant. So, I'm very impressed.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Clarke Pateley Bridge

“Very cheerful and very helpful”

No doubt about it — 5 out of 5.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr & Mrs Postlethwaite Menston

“More than we could have asked for”

Exactly what we wanted for our front and back garden. It's perfect.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr R Robinson Leeds

“The second time we've used First Light”

We've gone back to them as they were so great the first time.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Ms S McNerney Leeds

“Imaginative, professional and realistic”

Realistic with what can be done within your budget.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Thurrell South Milford

“They really understood what we wanted”

We felt that right from the start.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Martin Horsforth, Leeds

“It felt like a collaborative process”

We are going to enjoy this garden now for years.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Matusevicius Horsforth, Leeds

“Their input really helped us achieve the look”

I don't think it would have happened without them.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Ms Weekes Horsforth

“Quite simply, they were fantastic”

From initial contact through to every interaction.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Mannion Boston Spa

“I've never seen people work so hard”

The finish is brilliant. So, I'm very impressed.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Clarke Pateley Bridge

“Very cheerful and very helpful”

No doubt about it — 5 out of 5.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr & Mrs Postlethwaite Menston

“More than we could have asked for”

Exactly what we wanted for our front and back garden. It's perfect.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr R Robinson Leeds

“The second time we've used First Light”

We've gone back to them as they were so great the first time.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Ms S McNerney Leeds

“Imaginative, professional and realistic”

Realistic with what can be done within your budget.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
Mr Thurrell South Milford

“They really understood what we wanted”

We felt that right from the start.

★★★★★  ·  Video Testimonial
About First Light

Founded in 2007 by two friends from school — now Yorkshire's leading garden design studio.

Liam Pickering and Neal Baker started First Light Landscaping in 2007 with a van, a sketchbook and an unreasonable standard for finish. Eighteen years on, the studio is based at Springfield Mills in Farsley and the team is eighteen-strong — including lead designer Sammie Strickland (BSc + MSc Landscape Architecture), trained joiner Dave Horner, and a crew of landscapers, many of whom have been with us for over a decade.

In 2022 our Ridgeway project won the BALI National Landscape Award — the highest recognition in British landscaping. We have built projects for RHS Harlow Carr, designed the Stroke Recovery Garden at Chapel Allerton Hospital, and worked on private gardens from Roundhay to Wetherby. We are still a design studio first — with a build team that can deliver what the drawings ask for.

More About The Studio  →
First Light Landscaping project — Roundhay, Leeds
BALI 2022 Principal Award Winner
The Studio

Designers, Craftspeople & Site Managers

Eight of our eighteen-strong team — from the founding directors and our MSc-qualified lead designer to senior site managers running the build. Tap any card to read more.

Liam Pickering

Liam Pickering

Director & Projects Manager

Co-founded First Light with Neal in 2007 — friends since school. Liam ensures every project runs seamlessly from sign-off to handover.

Neal Baker

Neal Baker

Director & Head of Design

Co-founded First Light with Liam in 2007. Neal leads our design thinking and delivers exceptional service from consultation to completion.

Sammie Strickland

Sammie Strickland

Lead Landscape Designer

BSc + MSc in Landscape Architecture with over 5 years' experience. Sammie translates ambition into rigorous, buildable design.

Poppy Pilliterri

Poppy Pilliterri

Junior Landscape Designer

Brings a background in interior design to the studio — a sharp eye for materials, finishes and the way a garden feels lived in.

Louis Senior

Louis Senior

Operations Manager, Leeds

Joined First Light in 2013 as a labourer and now leads day-to-day operations across the Leeds team.

Dave Horner

Dave Horner

Senior Site Manager

Trained joiner. Joined in 2012. Dave brings craft-led precision to every build, from bespoke pergolas to architectural seating.

Jake Ryan

Jake Ryan

Senior Site Manager

Ran his own landscaping company before joining us in 2024. A natural leader on complex multi-trade builds.

Mariusz Iwanicki

Mariusz Iwanicki

Senior Landscaper

Our most senior team member. Multi-trade craftsman with an uncompromising passion for perfection.

The full team includes 18 designers, site managers and landscapers. We're hiring  →

Where We Work

Designing & building gardens across Leeds, Yorkshire and the Dales.

From our design studio in Farsley we cover all of Leeds, Harrogate and the surrounding Yorkshire towns and villages. If you're in or near any of the areas listed here, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

  • Roundhay
  • Oakwood
  • Chapel Allerton
  • Cookridge
  • Horsforth
  • Harrogate
  • Ilkley
  • Rawdon
  • Otley
  • Wetherby
  • Huddersfield
  • Mirfield
  • Brighouse
  • Dewsbury
  • Ossett
  • Heckmondwike
  • Cleckheaton
  • + All of LS
Get In Touch

Let's design your garden.

Whether you have a clear brief or just a feeling about the space, we'd love to talk. Every project starts with an initial consultation — in our Farsley studio or on site at your garden.

Two services. One studio. Design covers everything from first sketches to fully detailed construction drawings and planting plans. Build covers everything from groundworks to handover — delivered by our in-house team of landscapers, joiners and site managers.

Phone 0113 258 0428
Email info@firstlightlandscaping.co.uk
Studio Unit 15(2)A3, Springfield Mills,
Bagley Lane, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5LY
Services Garden Design  ·  Landscape Build  ·  Pricing

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Occasional notes from the studio — new projects, behind-the-scenes from the build team, and seasonal planting thoughts. No noise.

First Light Landscaping