If you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll remember that I showed you a series of sketches when this design was at its concept stage. The final design has now been agreed and the construction phase of the project is scheduled to start in mid-July. I thought you might like to see the final drawing…

The design for the front garden has largely remained the same but it will now be constructed with gravel and edged in sandstone setts rather than the proposed resin bonded aggregate. The driveway has been extended to allow space for additional parking. The timber archway at the side of the house will create a boundary between the front and back gardens without closing off the side access completely.

The long pathway between the front and back gardens will be wide (1.7m) to allow space for the planting to spill over the paving. This will soften the edges and trick the eye in to thinking that it is a winding path – a much more relaxed feel than the formality of a straight-edged path. There have been some changes to the design for the back garden but the overall feel of the garden has remained unchanged.

Unfortunately the budget would not allow for the curved and undulating wall so instead we will create a feeling of height at the back of the garden with trees and large shrubs. The existing oak trees beyond the end boundary are subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) so it is important to embrace them as part of the design.

The back garden is south facing and this means that it is in shade for most of the day. We have therefore settled on a woodland feel for the areas around the lawn as this will link in well with the oak trees. Look out for future posts during the construction phase of the project where I’ll share the progress with you. The estimated timescale for the build is 6-8 weeks so it’s perfectly timed for an autumn planting season.

I was very lucky to be able to help out at Hampton Court Flower Show last week. My friend Fiona Stephenson, who I worked with at the beginning of my Garden Design career, has designed the World Wildlife Fund garden this year and I volunteered to help out with the planting.  I thought you might like to see some of the pictures I took whilst the garden was in the making… Read more

This month’s Flowers In Pots post features that ever popular plant, lavender. Read more

I coordinate a local Society of Garden Designers’ cluster group and last week we visited the Maundy Todd Sculpture Garden and gallery in New Malden.  Set in Maundy’s own beautiful house and garden she exhibits the work of contemporary British sculptors who make limited editions or unique pieces for the garden and home. Read more

I spent this weekend helping my parents with the Axvale Show.  As some of you will know, they own Forton Nursery near Chard in Somerset and always attend the local shows to promote the nursery. Read more

I am very excited to announce that I have just launched my new “Garden Designer In Your House” package which is aimed at clients who want to design and build their own garden but who would like some input from a professional designer. Read more

This morning I presented some concept sketches to a client in Wandsworth.  They are in the middle of a building project to change the layout of their kitchen and dining area which means that the terrace in the back garden now needs to be reconfigured. Read more

I took a day out last week and went on a fabulous cliff-top walk with a friend of mine from Dover to Deal in Kent.  We were SO lucky with the weather, just a few spots of rain here and there, but look at the view – it more than made up for that!  To be honest, I love to be by the sea when it’s windy and a bit bracing…really does blow away the cobwebs! Read more

I blogged a month ago about my visit to Wild Flower Turf near Overton in Hampshire and this week I went to visit my friend and fellow garden designer, Helen, who had used the turf in her own garden.  Although she already had a wild area in the garden, last year she decided to introduce a pond so, rather than seeding the areas around the pond in order to link them to the existing wild flower meadow, she decided to use the turf instead.  This is how it looks just 7 months on… Read more

Following my visit to Loseley Park again last week I promised to tell you a bit more about the Zimsculpt exhibition which is on there at the moment.  Over 100 pieces of stone sculpture from Zimbabwe are on display throughout the garden and you can see some of the smaller pieces under cover in the marquee near the tea shop where you can also meet some of the Zimbabwean sculptors who will be giving demonstrations for the duration of the exhibition.  Here are some of my favourites… Read more