Click to enlarge		Below are examples of commissioned work		Click to enlarge
		Small City Courtyard The Brief: This is a small garden on a lower level than the house. The clients wanted both the formality of a city oasis and a woodland area. There is also a sunny area around to the side of the house which the clients want to use for sitting. The Design: We've used a simple circular design to hold the garden together and planted it up with formal, low maintenance plants which give year round interest. At the rear we have put in semi-mature trees to give privacy and to provide a wonderful small woodland area. The combination of mature trees, strong stuctural plants and reclaimed and natural materials creates a garden that loooks as if it has always been there.
		Shady & small The Brief: A small garden which slopes away down from the house. To the rear the garden is overlooked and needs some screening. The only sunny part of the garden is on the right and access is needed to the rear of the garage (where I have put the pergola) The client wanted a modern garden and also wanted lawn. The Design: We have put a modern water feature down the left hand side of the garden to give a contemporary feel to the garden and made the most of the changes in levels by having a curved, sunken sitting area on the right. On the step out of this sitting area we have a split level pool where water spills over to the lower level.
		Long & narrow The Brief: The main elements of the brief for this long, thin garden were that there should be space for a breakfast room at the rear of the garden (facing East), and that the garden should blend in with the modern extension on the rear of the house (at the right of the plan). The Design: We carried the slate from the floor of the modern kitchen out into the garden and enclosed this area with a curved wall. This wall also acts as a water feature and a seat. Beyond the wall the garden becomes progressively more rural until we have a woodland area just in front of the breakfast room.
		Modern The Brief: The client wanted an unashamedly modern garden here. The site rose sharply, just outside the house, by nearly a metre. The other main requirement was room for a Jacuzzi. The Design: We suggested increasing the size of the lower part of the garden so that it was more usable and since steps were inevitable we’ve made a feature of them. Water falls from the column at the top and cascades all the way down the slate steps. We also sank the Jacuzzi so it was possible to tuck it into the corner near the house.
		Traditional The Brief: This is a long city garden which the clients want treated in a very traditional way. The patio was rectangular and had two, quite steep steps at the side, down to the garden. The clients also wanted a pond for frogs and a shaded seating area. The Design: We built out the patio to form a curve and shaped the lawn (previously it was just a rectangle) using box balls as punctuation. At the rear we have put in exotic planting and granite setts around the circular frog pond. I’ve also put a pergola with a shady seat under it looking back towards the house.
		Established on several levels The Brief: This was a very overgrown garden belonging to an old village house. There is an old forge in the garden and the whole site rises up to a south facing area at the rear. The garden is quite big and the client didn’t want too much maintenance. They wanted to make the most of the south facing area at the top and have an open area here for children to play. Around the house they wanted a paved area for eating and, as they could see this from the house, it needed to look good all year round. The Design: We created a platform at the top of the garden to make the most of the sun but also made a pergola here for shade if needed. The main pathway curves gently as it goes through the garden and the arch by the forge creates a definite entrance to the garden. In the shady courtyard we’ve put a raised bed and a parterre for all year round structure.
		Country garden The Brief: This is a huge country garden but the clients don’t have much time to spend gardening. The main points of the brief were to have a water feature and somewhere to sit near the house, to have a greenhouse and compost near the house but shielded and to make the most of a view from the rear of the garden — a view which is best seen from a hieght The Design: Because of the need to be low maintenance we have used trees and rough grass in the main part of the garden with a cut grass shape in the centre for children’s play. At the back we put a grassed mound so you can sit, almost in the trees, and see the lovely view. Near the house we’ve got a yew hedge to divide off the higher maintenance area – this hedge slopes down to echo the curve of the mound at the rear of the garden. The pond is quite formal with abundant planting and seating around. The pond’s on two levels with water falling over the edge of the higher level.