Thanks for all the info. I actually live on the South Coast near Portsmouth,
so hopefully no London prices. The gardener did show me before and after
photos of gardens he's done and he does work full time for a gardening
company but I think he wants to branch out on his own.

The overriding point people made was to check out what plants / flowers he
would provide. I'll do that. I'll also contact some of the references he
provided.

Thanks for the info and hopefully I'll get a nice garden at the end of it!

Andy