This design brings together the three separated areas of the existing garden to give a better feel of unity and space, and an outside 'room' which lends itself to entertaining friends.




In the new design, the stepped line to the patio breaks up the space in a relaxing way and, with the integral planting squares, adds direction and purpose to the garden. The planting squares are flush with the patio and gravel areas, and their progression leads the eye down the garden while the slight rotation of the two westerly squares gives further direction and feeling of space to this narrower part of the garden and unity with the whole. Wrapping of the patio around the house corners gives a further sense of unity. The rotation of the paving within the easterly most square directs one towards the raised upper patio and adds balance to the westerly rotated squares.

The use of camomile and sempervivum planting in these squares provide interest, scent and colour. A modern mirror water feature adds a touch of chic and provides masking sound to the occasional distracting noise originating from the adjacent flats. The social aspect is further enhanced by garden up-lighting to the trees and shrubs. The lower canopy of the existing Chamaecyparis conifer is to be raised to a height of at least 1.9m in order not to partition the garden into two halves. A scented Jasmine is to be grown up through the under-branches. The tree seat adds further purpose to the tree and adds another social aspect to the garden.

All existing planting is removed (except for Chamaecyparis and Cornus) and where possible recycled to friends. The new planting scheme aims to provide all year round interest and screening in a low maintenance way. The new silver birches and the columnular cherry trees add vertical structure and screening and all year interest. Their small leaf form adds to the feeling of space. The Acer in the north west corner is attractive all year but stunning in the autumn. Allium bulbs are planted randomly amongst the Sasa veithchii.


The new garden is now nearing completion with all the hard landscaping complete.


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