The clients - A major commercial property developer and family

The garden - Two thirds of an acre around a 1930's house in a prestigious area of Essex with preservation orders on several large mature trees.

The brief - To design and build a garden to compliment the house, to provide an area for entertaining, to have colour and form that can be enjoyed from within the garden and from within the house throughout the year.

The design solution - The design divided the garden into different sections interconnected with pathways inviting exploration.
1. The main entertaining area faces west to catch the evening sun and features a millstone bubble fountain, paved terrace, lawns and formal planting beds.
2. A patio area with a pond and screen for climbers is accessed from the french doors of the drawing room looking to the north-west.
3. The front lawn on the south side of the house is bordered by mature trees. Here we kept the lawn area as large as possible by laying a path following the natural line of lawn die back created by the existing tree canopies.
4.The approach to the house was planted with rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias and azaleas all underplanted with spring flowering bulbs. The driveway was lit with three large Victorian lamp posts, with spot lights and stick lights along the pathways and in the flower beds.

Customer correspondence -
“Thank you for sending a copy of your new brochure. It is interesting to note how much everything has moved on since the photos of our garden were taken and we are currently experiencing an excellent spread of colour. The pond is also a delight with plenty of young frogs and tadpoles. Wishing you all well and we need to agree a date to discuss planting the new fernery after the completion of the extension in the autumn. Please feel free to forward our name and address to any prospective client who would like a personal recommendation” (Client name and address supplied on request)