THE BRIEF:

This large project in Queens Park was a dream garden to build. Working very closely with the clients, we were able to tailor both front and back gardens to their specific tastes and requirements.

The back garden is all clean lines and modern materials, combined with chunky mature hedging and low maintenance planting. Starting off with a major clearance, it was obvious the level of the site was going to cause problems with the initial design. The solution was to cut the garden into seperate zones, each one stepping up to the back. Zone 1 needed new, rendered walls to begin with, then this area was laid with cream coloured Sawn sandstone. A hardwood bench was fixed to the wall and remote control lighting fitted underfoot. Sandstone steps lead up to...Zone 2, simply laid to lawn with blocks of Box and rows of Bay standards and Lavender. Zone 3 is a more private lounging area with the same sawn sandstone and lighting, but with softer planting such as Iceberg Roses and Allium bulbs. More steps up to...Zone 4 which is the utility area with closely banked Yew hedging and a painted shed. All the fencing was painted in the same cool grey colour too. Zone 5 is laid with Astro turf for ease of maintenance and because it is under a large Plane tree, where a normal lawn would not thrive. A large Yew hedge was planted in a newly builted raised bed to screen off the railway at the back and enhanced with uplighters

The front garden was to be far more traditional in design, with a definite restoration feel. Black Granite cobblestones were laid in a square pattern and edged with Black Rope tile edging. The front steps were replaced with sawn, bullnosed sandstone steps The front path was re-levelled and laid with Original Style Victorian tiles in a chequerboard, heritage style. New brick piers and a bin store were built to match in with the house brick colour. Finally Yew hedging, Box balls and Lavender were planted to soften the whole effect but remain true to the authentic period feel

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