Monday 16 December 2013

Steeply Banked Garden in Jacobstow

This very steeply sloping garden in Jacobstow was completely overgrown and neglected.  A huge rhododendron dominated the only level area and the whole site was dangerous to walk over as it was completely uneven underfoot.
 
The garden before...
 
 
 
 
The clients wanted a useable level area of lawn for their young daughter to play on with easily accessible paths through the garden space, with minimal low maintenance planting.  A lovely variegated holly was to be kept as well as the pergola clothed with honeysuckle, and two camellias.  The large rhododendron and bamboos were removed to free up the level area.
 
It was a difficult site because of the steep slope and the very wet clay soil, a lot of which needed to be removed and new topsoil added.
 
The garden during the build...


 
 
Timber has been used to created the paths and steps with bark, to be in keeping with the woodland setting of the garden, and the clients budget.  Keeping most of the garden to lawn will provide safe play areas.  The planting has yet to go in, but will be low maintenance evergreen shrubs and hedging with ground cover plants and some fruit trees.
 
The finished landscaping, before planting...
 
 

 
In the clients words "It looks amazing...".  What had once been a huge headache and worry for the family is now an attractive,  safe and useable garden.
 

 

Bude Coastal Garden

This is a new design for a tucked away garden close to the coastal path at Bude.  The garden is currently mainly lawn and the clients want to keep two thirds of this for the grandchildren to play on. They want to add paths through the garden with enclosed seating areas and planting borders. A water feature of a large round water bowl with water lilies will be surrounded by a curved border of Hostas and Lilies.  One of the seating areas will be encircled by a sculptural timber screen, the other by a curved border to be planted with tall grassed and perennials.

Friday 4 October 2013

Walled Garden in St Tudy

Getting great feedback always makes the job worthwhile, and these words from recent clients do just that....

"Thank you so much for our beautiful plan.  We are so thrilled and can not wait to make a start on it.  We are so grateful for all the guidance."

The clients' walled garden in North Cornwall is a lovely space which has been kept mainly to lawn for the children and pets.

 
Now the children are older the clients want to give the garden a new lease of life.  The plan is designed to keep a decent sized lawn but add different areas of interest as well, with more seating areas, defined pathways, additional (but not too much) planting, and a greater sense of enclosure within the garden as the space is quite open and a little exposed to the weather.


Curving lines have been used to reflect the line of the existing curved retaining wall which is to stay, and to soften the look of the stone wall that surrounds the garden.

 
Looking forward to taking some progress photos later in the year and next spring.....
 


Friday 20 September 2013

Treyarnon Bay Planting


Even after such a hot and dry summer the planting at Treyarnon Bay has established really well, it softens the look of the house and adds so much more interest to what had been a rather bare and boring space.  It is a scheme designed to cope with the seaside conditions.

The garden before....
 
And after rebuilding and planting...

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Woodland Garden

A new design to create a garden out of an overgrown and neglected narrow plot, bounded by hedges and overhung with trees.


 
 
 
 

Friday 23 August 2013

Fowey Cottage Garden

After only four months the planting at the walled cottage garden in Fowey looks spectacular.

The brief was to create separate spaces, for seating outside the house, a lawned area with apple tree, as well as an area for vegetables and herbs.  The high walls around the garden, and the new pergola are perfect for apple espaliers, quince, climbing hydangeas and roses. 

Compare the garden before work started....



 
with the garden when the hard landscaping was almost finished and the plants had just gone in.....
 


 
to four months later....
 
 






 
The planting completely softens the hard landscaping and creates the perfect cottage garden look.


 

Monday 5 August 2013

Trevone Farm Cottages

The planting scheme for these new holiday cottages at Trevone was designed to take into account the dry and open conditions of the site which is a short distance from the sea.  The planting needed to be low maintenance and provide year round interest, as well as attracting insect wildlife.

The site before build....

 
The planting after....the contemporary planting scheme include Buddleia, Sedum, Osteospurmum, Stipa grasses and Agapanthus.
 




 
 
 

 


Tuesday 30 July 2013

New Barn Garden Design for garden near the Camel Trail

The garden of a tucked away Barn near the Camel Trail in North Cornwall has been partly landscaped and planted, but a large garden space adjacent to the house has been left blank and in need of  a design plan.

The new design aims to blend this garden space with the existing landscaping and provide a garden full of  interest and yet be low maintenance, with a screening hedge, seating area and some lawn.


Tuesday 23 July 2013

Granite and Slate Courtyard, Trelill

The planting in the garden at Trelill works well with the stone walling, granite setts and slate.  It had to be suitable for some shade, and then late afternoon sunshine.

The design of this garden had to incorporate the new drive into the garden, and the blocks of planting soften and divide the areas for parking and seating.





Tuesday 16 July 2013

Architect's Garden, Camel Estuary

This garden is in complete contrast to the Bude courtyard garden.  It is a very open, sunny and exposed site.  The long borders have been designed with a contemporary planting scheme which adds movement and colour, softening as well as complimenting the clean lines of the building and materials used. 

The borders before planting....

 
And after....