For many years this garden had been dominated by the needs of my client’s four children, however the time had come to reclaim the garden for adult use! The main garden was accessed from a large terrace running across the back of the house and could be viewed from this terrace and also from large patio doors leading onto the terrace from the lounge. Occupying an elevated position it had spectacular views out over surrounding countryside and town landscapes. Practical requests from the clients where to screen a garage which was on full view from the terrace, provide a private seating area and retain the existing hard landscape within the garden, also a large established beech tree and existing boundary hedges.
With other properties overlooking the house a strong ground plan was developed to retain visual interest within the garden whilst retaining views out. The concept was a design that offered different aspects of visual interest from both the terrace and the lounge whilst linking in with the existing hard landscaping and creating a unity within the space as a whole. To achieve this the site is divided by organic curves forming two linking circular areas which, while having identities of their own, link to form a united space. This concept was developed further by the inclusion of a curved palisade fence to screen the garage, providing a back drop for the garden and also space to be used as a secluded seating area enclosed by a small bamboo grove.
Contrasting styles of planting have been introduced in each half of the garden to provide a variety of interest when viewed from different areas of the garden but again linking to form a whole. By using a mixture of upright grasses and perennials a dense planting matrix has been achieved whilst providing a light ‘see through’ effect. The other half of the circular theme, dominated by the large beech tree has been planted predominantly with shrubs and bulbs for all year round interest and, with the canopy raised to allow more light to the area, an additional seat has been added.
