This garden needed privacy and rather than the usual high wall, the client wanted to consider a greener option more fitting to the rural landscape whilst offering a very classical, formal boundary.
This Carpinus (Hornbeam) hedge was imported from a specialist grower in Europe and planted as a mature hedge.
This garden is intended to be a space to relax in and enjoy with friends. The absence of a lawn has been compensated with lush and full planting that although looks daunting, is relatively easy to maintain.
There are two seating areas to make the most of the available sun and are linked together with a raised boardwalk.
The large specimen tree affords some privacy from neighbouring windows.
Although the garden is not too large, it is large enough to be a challenge when it comes to maintaining a multi-level plot.
The different levels are divided up with retaining walls constructed with treated Larch, the bark has been left on here to give added interest.
The intention with this garden’s lawn is to be able to mow without having to struggle up and down steps, by using lawned slopes and ramps between levels easy access for a lawn mower in maintained.
The planting areas are kept to a minimum and have been stocked with a mature selection of shrubs and herbaceous specimens and are intended to be low maintenance.
This large country garden enjoys open views across the local landscape and as such is very exposed to the prevailing winds. Low maintenance as well as hardy plant choices were critical, so the use of wild flower meadow planting was used to create colour interest and wildlife habitat for the majority of the year.
Broad and sweeping lines take the eye around the garden with the use of specimen trees in both avenues and groups along with a mixed native planted hedge to create the boundaries.
Natural stone paving forms the main terrace with a blend of traditional material laid out in a contemporary style.
Johnathan takes a full and active interest in his garden at home in spite of some challenges that include limited sight.
He enjoys nothing more than sharing his garden with friends- so the brief for this garden had to include a very simple layout with a series of non-slip but attractive paths to access every part of the garden in a wheel chair.
An unusual mix of plants would stimulate all of the senses year round as well as needing to be low in maintenance.
Keith and his family had lived in their home for many years but the time finally came when he was now living alone and finding the maintenance of the garden a real concern.
Andi and Keith took the time to sit and discuss the options which included moving house or paying a contractor to maintain the garden. Neither option would allow him the pleasure of working in his own garden when he wanted to.
Following a series of lengthy conversations and the drawing up of a design, a garden was created that would be very easy to maintain in conjunction with a planting scheme that has enough interest in it to satisfy Keith’s desire to continue gardening.
