I’m very excited to be able to share some pictures of my Cheshire project which is well into the construction phase.  You may remember me sharing the design with you some time ago but, if not, here’s a reminder…

I’m some distance from Cheshire so I haven’t been overseeing the build, but I’ve been kept up-to-date with progress and my client, Simon, has been sending me lots of pictures.

This first photo shows the main terrace looking from the existing breeze house.

As you can see, the shape of the lawn and tiered planting is now starting to take shape.  This is how the aspect looked before…

The main paved areas around the house are now in place and this photo was taken quite early on…

This was the concept sketch I put together…

…and this is how the garden looked before I started the plan…

The formal garden and kitchen garden is also starting to take shape.  The retaining wall is pretty much finished and the base for the greenhouse is also in…

Here’s the sketch I did with the initial plan…

But the most exciting part for me is the ha-ha which is now almost finished. I really can’t wait to see this in the flesh…

I think the top picture shows the angle of the wall to best effect and the inside will also be faced with stone.

It looks a long way off finishing, but the reality is that most of the hard landscaping isn’t too far off completion now.  I so wish I was just down the road, but it’s so nice to see the progress from time to time.  I’ll definitely be making a trip up to see it when it’s all finished.

Working to budgets is part of what I do, but it’s not always easy when there are so many choices available and if make tweaks along the way.  We’re undertaking a small building project at home and it’s exhausting making decisions, even though we’re doing some of it ourselves and therefore don’t have any time pressures. Read more

I’ve recently been working with a client in Laleston, near Bridgend.  The house is really old and they’ve spent some time since they brought it a couple of years ago, lovingly restoring it. Read more

I don’t know about you, but I love foraging for foliage at this time of year.  I’m lucky now that we have holly and ivy in the garden, the hedgerows are full of hazel and the woodland up the hill has an abundance of pine cones.  Now that the snow has disappeared, I’ll be cutting some holly at the weekend for Christmas decorations. Read more

I’ve recently been working with a couple near Cardiff who live in a Grade II list barn near Cardiff.  They’ve lived in the house for years but, having recently renovated the inside, now want to make the garden at the back of the house much more inviting and inspiring. Read more

A couple of weeks ago I visited the quarry and production plant at Forest of Dean Stone. I organised the trip for the local Society of Garden Designer’s “cluster group” I coordinate and it was well worth the visit. Read more

I’ve just returned from a week in Ireland where we had the most fabulous weather and were properly able to enjoy the amazing rugged landscape. Read more

It’s been feeling quite autumnal in South Wales over the past couple of weeks and we’ve had some gorgeous dewy mornings where the light has been catching the water droplets and lighting up the landscape. Read more

I have recently been working with a local Monmouthshire client who is in the process of building their own house.  It took them years to find the right plot and to get the house plans all signed off, but now that the build is finally underway, they’re ready to start thinking about the garden. Read more

My goodness the time has flown this year and I realised this morning that I still haven’t shared the photos I took at Stockton Bury Gardens back in April this year! Read more