The Society of Garden Designers was established in 1981 and is the only professional body in the UK dedicated solely to garden design. It is active both nationally and internationally, promoting its aims through the Garden Design Journal, workshops, seminars, conferences and links with the construction industry.

The Society includes Friends of the Society, and membership categories for Students, Graduates, Correspondents and Registered Members. Only Registered Members are approved by the Society as garden designers and they can provide a full professional service in all aspects of garden design.

The key aims of the Society are:
to promote excellence in garden design
to recognise and promote only Registered Members and Fellows as
professional garden designers.
to serve its wider membership