Garden for relaxation

Garden for relaxation	The central lawn is surrounded by lush herbaceous planting
The owner's handcrafted bench is happily sited in a designated spot in the sun	The ornamental bark of the silver birch will become whiter and more striking in years to come
The generously sized terrace means that it can be used in a number of ways	The furniture can stay outside in all seasons
Of course a garden has to cater for all members of the family	A reclaimed obelisk from a salvage yard has been restored and painted to form an interesting focal point
Within one season the right planting can make an impact	Planting for the hot and dry part of the garden
An additional seating area to the side of the house	The dining area
And space for a free standing barbecue

Before photos

My brief was to create a family garden with a simple, stylish entertaining area, large enough to accommodate a large dining table and comfortable seating. Although my client had little experience of gardening she was keen to learn and requested an informal planting style with all year interest. She also requested a smaller, more intimate seating area where you could catch the morning sun. The children’s priority was a good-sized lawn and space for their large trampoline.

I set the new garden at an angle to make it look larger and in keeping with the size of the house. The terrace is a buff coloured sandstone paving which is also used as a lawn edging. The paths near the house are paved but gravelled elsewhere.

Tucked into the corner of the garden is a new shed and the trampoline. When the children grow older, the trampoline will be replaced with raised beds.