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Site Description:
A large Georgian ornate stone house, with west-facing
front garden and a long, sloping, east-facing back garden.
The clients have 3 children between the ages of 9 and
13. The house needed to be fun for the whole family.
Front Garden: The house was set
back from the road with a grass verge and a reasonable
sized front garden, large enough to park 2 cars. There
was small lawn and various overgrown shrubs, mostly near
the house and partially concealing a decorative stone
balcony. The tarmac driveway was uneven and pot-holed
and the whole space didn't do justice to the the beautiful
house frontage. Additionally the tarmac side path to the
main entrance was rather bleak and unwelcoming.
Back
Garden Bounded on all sides by stone walls
and quite private because of this and neighbouring trees.
It sloped downwards from the house, dropping 6ft over
its length. Although dominated by a mature copper beech
near the house, the garden was fairly open in feel and
had views over Bristol in one direction. It was mostly
laid to lawn with an existing border running the length,
edged with rockery stone. The basement was rented and
the clients shared their garden access path with the tenants.
Drainage was an issue as the basement had flooded several
times.
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The
Brief:
Front Garden: To design an elegant
entrance and a formal parterre garden, to be viewed form
the balcony. Vehicle and pedestrian areas needed to be
better defined and additional planting to soften the approach.
Back
Garden: To create a feeling of privacy from
the end boundary and basement flat. A large lawn was to
be retained with an additional play area with tree house.
A large shed and additional storage was needed for bikes
and wood. A generous stone paved, entertainment area was
wanted near the house and a kitchen garden was requested
at the end.
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The
Design:
Front
The main feature is a square shaped parterre with
Box hedging, set within a lawn; the pattern borrowed from
the adjacent balcony. The drive and pedestrian areas are
clearly defined. Beautiful stone paving replaces the tarmac
path to the front door with compacted gravel replacing
the pot-holed tarmac area; an altogether more elegant
solution. A beech hedge was planted along the front boundary
and the new planting beds soften the hard landscaping.
Back
The design set on the diagonal, makes the most of the
rectangular shaped garden. To accommodate the slope, the
space is divided into 3 terraces:
The upper terrace is the main outdoor
eating area with a large stone terrace, planting and small
area of lawn. This receives morning and midday sun. Additionally
there is a bark-surfaced play area around the beech tree,
to be screened by the new green beech hedge in time. Channel
drains collect rain water running down the side of the
house.
The middle terrace comprises a timber
pergola walkway leading out onto a large semi-circular
lawn. The pergola breaks up the view and encloses the
upper portion of the garden.Pratical and attractive stone
stepping stones lead around the lawn edge to 2 timber
gates leading into the vegetable garden beyond. A green
beech hedge will in time screen this area and integrate
the gates.
The lower level has raised vegetable
beds built by the client, compost bins and large storage
shed. It is also a peaceful place to sit and catch the
last sun rays of the day.
Planting:
The brief was elegant, with emphasis on white, blue
and pink colours with with clipped box in amongst the
planting. Grasses were used to provide screening from
the basement flat entrance. New trees included, Amelancier,
Sorbus, Robinia, and Cercidiphyllum. Topiary box balls
punctuate planting in the front and back. Shrubs include:
rugosa roses, variegated pittosporum, lavender, rosemary,
caryopteris, viburnums. Perennials included, campanulas,
white hemerocallis, geraniums, ferns, ajuga, various grasses.
Lots of climbers clothe the walls and pergola with wisteria,
white and pink roses, clematis, virginia creeper, ornamental
vines and honeysuckles.
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