Large Country Garden

The courtyard dining area, with picture frame structure for climbers, and a new brick archway exit tommtch the existing brick work

The original granite setts were re-laid, and additional setts found to match them as edging for the soft local shingle.

A view across the new lawn and borders - low retaining walls but from local brick to match the Victorian originals.

The gentle primrose pompoms of Santolina 'Primrose Gem' soften the edges of the paths

Shrubs such as Cotinus, Pittosporum, Abelia, and Santolina form the basis of this border between the lawn and the woodland

Raised beds on hoggin surround the greenhouse in the vegetable garden.

Soft mounded planing with contrasting spikes of Iris surrounds the terrace and paths, with taller shrubs at the back of the border. Graceful and fragrant Eleagnus 'Quicksilver' punctuates the long border.

The front of the house now showcased by lawns and a gravel garden

Courtyard garden before redesign

Main garden before redesign

The brief: To create a large country garden high in the Chilterns from surrounding overgrown land and older lawns. Our client wanted a courtyard and terrace for entertaining, a new entrance with ample parking to showcase the beautiful Victorian farmhouse, lawns and borders, vegetable garden and greenhouse, and to incorporate the existing mound of black pines into the design.

The hard landscaping reused the existing granite sets in the courtyard, matched with new porcelain tiles. The terrace was built from sandstone, with low retaining walls and an archway built from local wood-fired brick to match the glazed brickwork of the house.

Shrubs form the backbone of the planting creating sustainable year-round interest. These are interspersed with herbaceous plants for seasonal colour. Highlights include silvery Eleagnus ‘Quicksilver’ punctuating the long border; the long-lasting foliage and form of Abelia ‘Edward Groucher’ with Cotinus ‘Grace’; the mounded shapes of Santolina ‘Primrose Gem’ and Hebe rakaiensis soften the borders around the terrace. Roses, clematis, and many other climbers clothes the arches and add height.