Enchanting Escape

Brief:

This is a large open plot owned by a family of 5.

The three teenage sons love playing football, and want a space to practice.

Mother enjoys flower arranging, and wants beds which feel natural but produce lovely cut flowers.

The family enjoy growing their own vegetables.

The family enjoy entertaining at their home, and want lots to do with their friends in the garden.

The family want their garden to be their escape from their busy lives.

Site notes:

Boggy ground in the northern part of the garden
Prevailing wind from the east
Existing feature well on property to be retained

Blended boundaries

The first point of call was to conceal the unplastered block walls. I used a variety of evergreen shrubs and trees to hide the walls and block the prevailing wind from the east all year round, enclose the football area so any fly balls are retained to the property, and ensure the natural wildlife pool is kept clear from deciduous leaves.

Beautiful utility

Behind the garage are two composting bins, and a water butt – this collected water will be used to irrigate the vegetable garden. The bins will be stored in a green roof shed next to the garage. Walking through the narrow pathway we enter the raised bed vegetable garden, which will be surrounded by raised beds of different lavender cultivators. This ensures pollinators visit the fruit and vegetables, creates an incredibly fragrant, relaxing space, and the flowers and foliage can be used for flower arranging. There is a bench and table in the vegetable garden for enjoyment and practicality. A picket fence runs around the vegetable garden except against the decked pathway. The ground is covered in gravel.

Faithful forest

Walking onto the wooden deck from the vegetable garden, we walk through two raised beds of different lavender cultivators, and enter into the forest walkway. This area will be a wildlife sanctuary, with little insect hotels, bird houses and feeders, and hedgehog hotels set onto certain trees, and on the ground. We want to encourage creatures like hedgehogs and birds to live here – they will help with controlling snails, slugs and other pests. This forest also gives privacy to the outside entertainment area from the field.

Warmth at the fire pit

Carrying on along the wooden decked path we reach the fire pit. This area faces onto the field with no obstructions, so the view can be enjoyed. The floor will be covered with gravel.

Power of perennials

Continuing down the wooden path, we walk through a perennial flowerbed, past the well and under a pergola. The perennial flowerbed is created with a mixture of ornamental grasses, a mixture of lavender cultivators, Echinacea purpurea, Verbena bonariensis, Hemerocallis fulva, Rudbeckia fulgida var.sullivantii ‘goldsturm’, and Gaura lindheimeri. All these flowers can be used for flower arranging, require little maintenance, add impactful colour to the site, and are loved by pollinators and other insects. There is a mixed medium path of gravel and wooden sleepers through the middle of the perennial bed, to allow for easy flower picking.

Entertainment, relaxation, and fun

Next we come to the football field; this is surrounded by a stunning forest of evergreen trees, which screens the view of the field from the house. This forest has to be evergreen to prevent an influx of deciduous leaves into the wildlife pool which create an imbalance of nutrients in the water, and block sunlight.

Carrying on back up the decked path, we come to the wildlife swimming pool. This swimming pool is cleaned by the specially chosen plants and micro-organisms. There will be a small pump installed which runs the water through shingle to keep the nutrient level low, and the water clear. This wildlife pond requires less maintenance than a conventional swimming pool, allows wildlife to benefit, and creates a beautiful focal point. The deck in the corner allows for relaxation, has a view of the entire garden, but is also reasonably hidden from the open field.

An outdoor kitchen will be attached to the front of the house, and house a pizza oven, BBQ, mini fridge and sink. This entertainment area will have a large table for dining and a comfortable, relaxed seating area towards the lawn. In front of the outdoor kitchen space is a raised herb garden – so fresh herbs can be used when cooking.

Mediterranean love

Either side of the house has a Mediterranean feel created by the use of mixing gravel and large, ethically sourced, local, high quality sandstone slabs, and Olea europaea trees.

Materials and texture

The FSC, high quality, wooden decking will be laid at different angles to create an interesting weaved effect through the garden.

Closing thoughts

I believe this space has been designed in a way which appreciates the needs of both the family and nature, and will allow the site to grow and mature in a sustainable way.

Design and write up by Kim Graham