A stylish garden for a family with teenage children who love entertaining, playing sport and growing their own produce. My clients wanted the entertaining garden design to maintain an open airy feel and sit well within the surrounding landscape. The existing courtyard and the new entertaining space are united by a yorkstone edged rill with a letter box slot water feature built into the pillar of the wall. The rill draws the eye out to the garden beyond and brings the reflections of the sky and the soothing sound of water. An oak pergola creates an area of shade within the courtyard. The larger designed entertaining space is laid with breedon gravel and has a sunken firepit, integrated cedar topped benches and plenty of lush perennials, shrubs and grasses enclose the space.

Raised oak vegetable beds are in easy access of the kitchen. A large circular lawn provides space for games. A curved swathe of grasses defines the lawn and creates a pathway to the pond enclosed by crescent shaped mounds covered with wildflowers. The pond is planted with native species and an oak deck hovers over it to enjoy the evening sun in this entertaining garden design. Large cobble stepping stones lead to a seating area with a raised fire pit and oak cube seats. A small orchard, sown with wild meadow flowers, leads off from the pond of this entertaining garden design. Predominantly native trees and hedges have been planted around the garden to merge with the surrounding countryside.

This garden was selected as one of the Best Designs of 2011 by the Garden Design Journal – see Media page