Cottage Garden
The owners of this delightful cottage wanted to create an interesting, colourful and family friendly space. They were also keen to increase their sense of privacy from ramblers whose presence made them feel rather on display. The design involved dividing the garden into more organised spaces: arrival, entertaining and a games area, as well as deploying multiple screening devices. To create a clear sense of arrival we repositioned the main entrance to align with a new front door and parking area. A central gravel path with brick edging was detailed, flanked with lavender and softened with textural perennials and grasses either side. Beech hedging was used to separate the parking area from the entrance, screening the cars and making the garden safer for their small children. Additional hedging and careful positioning of a few small trees ensured the house was effectively screened from passers-by.
Borders were designed to wrap around the seating areas and using the upright spires of Stipa gigantea and Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ we heightened the sense of privacy and enabled the existing terrace to be successfully used for dining. An additional entertaining area with comfy seating and fire pit was created to overlook the lawned area, kept clear for children’s games. The choice of plants was key, needing to be in keeping with the views of the surrounding countryside and to be reflective of the style of property. A contemporary cottage garden was envisaged. Apple trees for a nod to the productive history of the garden, the beautiful Rose ‘Munstead Wood’ and bearded iris to bring a sense of traditional cottage companions, whilst the softness of Stipa lessingiana and joyful Echinacea and Anemone bring warmth, colour and a dash of modernity. This new sense of immersion, surrounded by colour, texture and scent has created a sense of calm and relaxation enjoyed by all.
