The Garden

The garden has evolved over the past 34 years, with new areas added gradually during that time.

Initially, it was a family garden with lawns for cricket and go-karting, as well as a swimming pool but as children grew and began to leave the nest, we decided to divide the space into rooms, thus creating areas for various types of planting, which in turn provoke different emotional responses. This design also serves to withhold the view of the garden, encouraging a sense of exploration, and a constant element of surprise.

The terrace, woodland garden and rose garden, relatively near to the house were early additions to the garden, with a vegetable and cutting garden beyond the lawns. A rill was installed in 2011, adding a new dimension with moving water. There are raised beds either side of the rill, facing east and west, and colour themed to represent sunrise and sunset.

A three quarter span greenhouse and potting shed were added in 2017, with a wildlife pond, being a lockdown project, in 2021.

This is a garden that is constantly being reconsidered and edited.

Structure is key, and features such as a pleached lime allee, an avenue of Irish yews, york stone terraces, wooden arbours, screens and pergolas within 'walls' of box and yew hedging all provide a strong framework for exuberant planting.