Client brief
Clients want a family garden for their young children to enjoy as a natural play garden. Lots of pre-constructed climbing frames are on the market but we wanted to achieve something a bit different. Not just for the children but for grandparents to enjoy too. An existing garden office sat exposed on the garden slope without comfortable steps. The garden sits on a sloping chalky site and clients want a complete redesign.
Design response
Designing with natural materials immediately brings back memories of playing outside as a child. I love working with natural willow canes and we used this to create the children’s den despite the January mud! Thanks to Arcangel for welding and constructing the mild steel framework on site. Once the steel framework is in place, weaving begins to create a natural, living framework.
The stepping logs vary in height to add a bit more of a challenge for the children and clients tell us they are currently the children’s favourite part of the garden. The planting design includes fruit trees and we helped clients to choose the right trees for their palette and their soil. Planting apricot, plum and apple trees has created great excitement with thoughts of plentiful fruit crops to come.
Cor-ten steel screens hide the old neighbouring fence, not in the client’s ownership and with neighbours unwilling to upgrade it, we landed on this compromise. The Cor-ten steel screens enhance this part of the garden by shielding the view of the old fence. The contemporary screens beautifully compliment the planting scheme. We have selected plants for movement and interest across the seasons. We have created a touch of drama by planting black bamboo near the garden office, looking through the office window to see them is already working a treat, because clients tell us how lovely it is to look out onto the garden with so much to look at.
The new and improved timber steps lead down to the paddlestone path, where we combined aromatic groundcover plants; chamomile and thyme. The daily commute to work is now transformed! The planting design includes five beautiful trees ~ the 3 fruiting trees will develop and produce fruit over the coming years and the Eucalyptus and multi-stem Silver Birch (Betula utilis jacquemontii) look stunning.
There is plenty to delight and nurture in this natural play, nature-rich garden designed for all the family to enjoy.
Installation by Blue Rose Landscapes