THE BRIEF
On first viewing, the garden of this pretty brick and flint farmhouse had little to offer, but a sloping lawn, an unattractive old milking shed, a narrow path around the house and a gravel driveway quite a distance from the front door. We were asked to produce a completely new landscape design, to incorporate large paved terraces for entertaining, a repositioned driveway to the front of the property, a level croquet lawn, methods for disguising road noise, an orchard, vegetable garden, chicken coop, wildflower meadow and borders filled with planting to provide year round interest.
WORKING CLOSELY WITH CLIENT & ARCHITECT
Planning permission was being sought for a substantial extension and complete renovation, and due to the house being located within the South Downs National Park, there was a high level of scrutiny. We worked closely with the clients and their architect to meet the brief, but also helped progress the project through the planning process. An Arboricultural Report and Tree Survey were required by the Planning Authority, undertaken by a one of our recommended specialists.
SCOPE OF THE GARDEN COMPONENTS
It was decided early in the design process that a courtyard garden with high brick walls on the roadside of the house would help reduce the sound of the traffic and a raised pool with three lead waterspouts would further detract from any residual noise. The completed courtyard is paved with Indian Sandstone, with a dissecting herringbone brick path leading from an old reclaimed timber entrance gate towards the raised pool and house.
A box parterre and box edged beds planted with scented roses and perennials provide year-round interest, and raised sleeper vegetable beds provide space for summer salad crops. The brick walls are clothed with climbing roses, honeysuckle, Wisteria and Clematis, providing colour and scent throughout the summer months.
A new gravel driveway and forecourt have been created at the front of the house, with flower beds containing sun loving shrubs, perennials and climbing roses positioned at the base of the house and courtyard walls. A beech hedge now divides the parking area from a level croquet lawn, enclosed with mown grass banks. Through a rose clad arch, a gently sloping brick edged, self-binding gravel path leads up to the middle terrace, the stable yard and the orchard beyond, for easy wheelbarrow access.
To the east of the house, a wide Indian Sandstone terrace leads seamlessly out from the kitchen, accessed through large bi-fold glass doors. A zinc cistern with fountain is positioned at one end of the terrace near to the house to provide the soothing sound of running water.
The main section of the garden is on the level above, retained by low brick walls. Sloping flower beds surround a square lawn, with brick edged, self-binding gravel paths dissecting it into quarters.
At the centre, an overflowing terracotta pot is surrounded by lavender edged beds and a timber bench provides a focal point from the house. As well as the exuberant planting within the borders, the milking shed is also cleverly disguised by the many cut logs that are stacked all the way up the front elevation that faces the garden.
An orchard has been planted within the surrounding meadow, where wildflowers are encouraged to proliferate, providing nectar for pollinators and habitats for small mammals and birds. Mown paths provide routes through the meadow and orchard.
Further developments have included a larger vegetable garden and chicken run, enclosed by strong netting to deter the local wildlife!
