Natural Swimming Pools & Garden Landscapes
Our Story
Back in 2008, we moved to our new family home - 11 acres of bramble-filled paddocks, rough grass, and wide Nottinghamshire skies. It was wild and unruly, but we saw potential. We knew we wanted to create a garden that felt alive—a place for our children to grow, for animals to roam, and for nature to thrive.
Sarah, a garden designer with years of experience, and Will, a trained horticulturalist, had always shared a passion for natural landscapes. But something was missing: a pool that blended with nature, not battled against it.
Unable to find anyone in the UK to build the natural pool she envisioned, Sarah trained in Austria and built one herself. The result was not just a dream come true, it became the spark that started Ellicar.
What began as a personal project soon turned into something much bigger. As Sarah’s clients saw the pool nestled in our garden, they began asking for their own. And so Ellicar Pools was born; one of the first companies in the UK to specialise in the design and build of natural swimming pools.
The business grew organically, rooted in the same values that shaped our garden: sustainability, beauty, and a deep respect for nature.
Today, we design and build award-winning natural pools and ecological gardens across the UK, all from our base at the family home.
Ellicar is a true family-run business. Sarah still leads every design project with creativity and care. Will handles finance and operations. Their children have grown into key roles: Chester, with a degree in chemical engineering, heads our pool filtration and pool installations, and George with his construction expertise, leads our expert pool builds and hard landscaping projects. Hannah, with a background in design, supports the team from the office.
We work together every day (often with muddy boots and dogs at our feet) together with our talented young team, guided by the same principles that shaped our own garden: work with nature, stay hands-on, and never lose sight of the joy in what we do.
Nature is at the centre of everything we do. From the way we design gardens to how we build pools, we work in harmony with the environment; creating spaces that are beautiful, biodiverse, and built to last.
We don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions. Every project is personal, every garden unique, and every pool designed to bring joy for years to come.
We take pride in meticulous workmanship—from structural hydraulics to soft landscaping—backed by BALI, APL & HTA accreditations and a relentless attention to detail.
We are a close-knit team that values trust and inclusion: listening to clients, sharing ideas across disciplines, and working hand in hand to bring projects alive—while supporting local growers and weaving wildlife, soil, and water into every design.
Drawing on over 20 years of evolving our own 11-acre ecological garden, we continuously refine our approaches; experimenting with biodynamic principles, planting schemes, and new tech to deliver sustainable, inspiring outdoor spaces.
If you're considering a natural swimming pool for your garden, there's no better way to understand the beauty and benefits than by seeing one in person. You're warmly invited to visit Ellicar Gardens, where you can experience our own award-winning natural swimming pool; crystal clear, chemical-free, and alive with nature.
We offer personal show-arounds by appointment, giving you the chance to explore the pool up close, experience wild swimming, ask questions, and learn how we design and build these unique, wildlife-friendly spaces.
To arrange your visit, simply get in touch. We’d love to share it with you.
If you're considering a natural pool or looking to create an outdoor space that's as beautiful as it is functional, we'd love to hear from you.
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