Our client’s brief was to create a calming and tranquil space for a family to find peace during a really hard time, whilst also meeting the needs of three primary school aged children. The garden needed to be low maintenance, usable all year round and enable the children to connect with nature.
We utilised the irregular shape of the garden by designing and creating a bespoke curved bench in collaboration with a local sustainable carpenter which the family now enjoys whilst sitting around a fire bowl, and other areas of the garden have been punctuated with smart, low maintenance planters.
Being a shady garden, we knew that it would be challenging for turf to grow. So to avoid using artificial grass for aesthetic and environmental reasons, we opted for a hard wearing and low maintenance composite decking. The design of the garden has been complimented with plants which suit shady conditions, meeting the brief of creating a tranquil and beautiful space whilst also creating focal points and softening the decking.
Three tree ferns of different sizes are a key feature of the garden creating height and mass, framing the seating area, and bringing beauty from their lush greens fronds. New fences give additional privacy and painting them dark grey compliments the light tones of the decking and render on the house.
Pebbles have been used to dress the planting areas and provide an opportunity for the children to be creative giving them a canvas to draw and paint on, making it a really fun and social space. A simple lighting scheme including lanterns and strings of solar lights along the fence adds ambience and gives our client the opportunity to enjoy the garden in the evening with friends and family.
Gardens by Anna Butterfield offer professional garden and planting design across London and the South East.
Our expert, organic garden care service is available across South East London as well as parts of Kent and Surrey.
