The client has a newly built, beautiful house in a popular Lake District spot. The builder had done a great job landscaping but the only plant in the garden is an impressive old Magnolia tree. The garden is large and the client required a plant design that was thoughtful, requires about a a day a month in maintenance and provided screening/ all year interest and bought more wildlife into the space.
This wonderful space offered a blank canvas- a gardeners sweet shop of opportunity. We carry out a site survey for planting jobs, not just hardscape design. The right plant, right place saying couldn’t be truer…. this site had compacted clay, from heavy machinery, is slightly acidic and has exposed areas, with significant wind tunnels. Learning the microclimate of any garden we work in is part of the process, frost pockets, shade, exposure can all impact the success of the design and plant choice.
We planted a number of trees to screen the front garden- these can all accommodate a heavy clay and as they establish should provide all year season interest… The dappled summer leaf and beautiful winter bark of Betula nigra ‘Black Star’ / Alnus aurea provides a lime yellow leaf in the summer and pink winter catkins, Prunus hokusia for late spring blossom, and Sorbus ‘Autumn Spire’ for impressive autumn red foliage and coloumnar shape. These joined a multitude of shrubs to tapestry an easy maintenance borer for the front.
Planting Project
This couple completed their dream home several years ago and patiently waited for a garden to match. They envisioned a landscape that would evolve with them — a place to entertain, to unwind, and for their young teenagers to relax and spend time with friends for many years to come.
Although generous in scale, the garden is north-west facing, requiring a thoughtful approach to maximise sunlight and comfort throughout the day. A series of distinct spaces were introduced to make the most of the summer weather: an entertaining patio positioned in the sunniest part of the garden; a fire pit with limestone arena seating, creating a warm, intimate setting that captures the evening sun; and a shaded glade where tall Corten pillars provide structure and flexibility — offering places to hang hammocks, walk a slack line and relax within a secluded, richly planted space.
The client’s vision led the design from the outset, with relaxed entertaining at its heart. Chunky limestone boulders and monoliths take inspiration from the dramatic limestone cliffs of the South Lake District, grounding the garden firmly within its wider landscape. The gently flowing ‘river’ pathway was the client’s idea — one I will happily borrow again.
Planting has been designed as much for wildlife as for the viewer, with an emphasis on strong structure and winter interest. The garden is still evolving, and the emergence of spring bulbs will add further texture and layered richness to an already abundant and immersive scheme.
