We were asked us to design and create a wildlife friendly, naturalistic garden with beautiful planting for our clients who are both keen gardeners and plant enthusiasts.

They were looking for a garden that would be easy to look after with a long flowering season.

As well as attracting wildlife one our clients were keen on including water in the garden so we instantly thought of a small wildlife pond.

Other requests were to create pathways to make the garden feel more interesting, to screen the prevailing SW wind, which often prevented them enjoying the garden, and above all keep the amazing view.

The garden was a south facing blank canvas. From the first visit we were blown away by the incredible view out onto rolling countryside. The big challenge was to maintain that view to the south while creating sheltered areas to enable our clients to enjoy relaxing and dining out of the prevailing wind.

This was a dream garden for us, combining plants, wildlife and water for enthusiastic, plant loving clients in a beautiful setting. And we were give a long list of plants to include.

Starting with concept plan of the garden, we framed the stunning view with sinuous borders given a crisp edge by from our fabulous welder Aidie.

We created sheltered seating areas within a rich and diverse planting scheme. 

A sunken patio with green oak pergola cloaked in fragrant climbers is perfect for evening entertaining and BBQs. Here you can sit, low down, tucked away from the wind, overlooking the pond and immersed in planting.

The surrounding drystone raised beds were expertly constructed by our waller friends Cuthbert and Lydia Noble to match the natural limestone of this area.

A cabin, still to be built, was integrated into the garden with huge glass bifold doors- a garden getaway to enjoy garden in all weathers.

Closer to the house we wrapped colourful summer planting with repeat flowering roses around the existing kitchen patio. This offers low level shelter, the perfect morning coffee spot, just a step away from the kitchen door. 

On the west boundary we tackled the prevailing wind by planting a triple layer of long-term wind screening. Gap planting the existing conifer hedge, which will be replaced one day by a second yew hedge. We also included pine trees in a woodland walk further into the main garden more specimen trees with winter interest. These layers will slow down the wind and have made a difference to the garden already.

An informal path running through a colourful gravel garden in front of the house, planted with aromatics and grasses leads to the pond and sunken garden.

The free-flowing lawn is surrounded by colourful, naturalistic borders with shrubs, grasses and perennials and flowers all year for pollinators. Borders are designed to stand in for winter beauty and as seedheads for the birds.

The heavy clay soil was broken up, improved with composted soil conditioner, borders are mulched with a thick layer of composted bark mulch. This improves plant growth and establishment, soil biodiversity, reduces weeding and watering requirements. 

Plants are all from UK nurseries, grown on by us before planting.

The garden is a haven for wildlife- our clients report a noticeable increase in biodiversity with amphibians, diverse pond life, dragon flies, more insects, pollinators and wild birds. They enjoy their garden immensely and spend lots of time out in it, relaxing and gardening at leisure and enjoying the wildlife, new colours and plants that immerge every day and the incredible view.