Wild textures and year-round structure

The aim for this back garden was to create a family-friendly space that embraced nature whilst also providing more productive areas. The clients wanted somewhere to enjoy wild and colourful planting, comfortable places to sit and space to grow vegetables and herbs. There was also a desire for wilder, more naturalistic textures within the garden to be complemented by low maintenance, year-round structure.

Key zones include the central lawned area surrounded by naturalistic perennial planting and a new feature tree, offering a practical and multi-use space. A produce and cooking area is situated directly outside the house with raised beds and a cut flower bed in front of the kitchen window to add to the view down the length of the garden. A main dining area is positioned behind this space with bench seating, a bubbling water feature and soft enveloping planting. An additional seating area with comfortable seating is situated further into the garden, making the most of the south-facing aspect with a container pond and dappled light provided by several small trees. The back of the garden is home to a wildlife and storage area, screened by native hedging and trellis with climbers. These areas are all connected via multiple meandering pathways to help soften the space and really offer the opportunity to appreciate the extent of the garden and its lush planting.

Hard landscaping materials include reclaimed brick pathways, tying in with the existing landscaping as well as self-binding gravel to help create a naturalistic feel. A wildlife fence using trellis also envelopes the garden to give seasonal interest and provide habitat and food sources for wildlife.

The planting includes the addition of feature trees such as Acer palmatum and Malus sylvestris to add further height and interest alongside the existing willow and prunus trees. The main borders are to be filled with pollinator friendly plants such as verbena bonariensis and structural plants for year-round interest - both in the form of naturalistic grasses and evergreens (e.g. Anemanthele lessoniana). Wildlife friendly climbers are to be planted all along the wildlife fencing including native species such as Lonicera periclymenum. Cut flowers (e.g. Echinops ritro) are to be planted in the raised beds and borders for flowers to be brought into the house.

Project stage: design completed, build yet to start