They imagined quiet evenings around the fire, warm afternoons in the sun and a landscape that would gradually become part of their lives. Neither had much experience of looking after a garden, but both were eager to learn, to get their hands dirty and to enjoy the process as much as the finished result.
The site itself suggested the answer. With the main garden rising towards one corner, we proposed a central natural swimming pond, carved into the ground and held by a sweeping curved retaining wall. It was a bold move, involving major excavation and around 30 grab lorries of spoil, but it gave the garden its heart: a generous body of water that feels both architectural and deeply natural.
Around the pond, wildflower meadow planting softens the new ground level and brings movement, biodiversity and seasonal change. Above the wall, a circular lawn path wraps the garden, creating a gentle route around the whole space. Forty trees were planted around the boundaries, giving the garden an immediate sense of enclosure, maturity and permanence.
Built in 2017, this is a garden that has continued to evolve. We have remained closely involved with the clients, guiding them through establishment and enjoying the rare pleasure of seeing the space mature properly over time. It has become exactly what they hoped for: a garden for fireside evenings, summer swims, family life and the slow, satisfying rhythm of living outdoors.
