Rural Acre Garden Design

As the site slopes away from the house by 150cm, the site would need terracing to allow for the 'Formal Garden' Garden Studio and Outdoor Kitchen. Bel began designing the garden, incorporating a brick faced retaining wall with a grassed slope at the centre to allow for access to the lower areas and to allow the clients to drive the 'Ride on' lawn mower around the plot. To link the existing paving with the Garden Studio etc, Bel created a curved paved pathway and patio extension, which gave elegant shape to the area and softened the geometric lines of the property. A large planting border opposite, mirrors the curve and allows a mass of planting to provide year-round colour and interest, backed by a Hornbeam hedge to offer the formality the clients required. The planting design used a selection of traditional cottage style perennials and shrubs, in a limited colour palette to offer a calming elegant look to the Formal space. 

In the Kitchen Garden, the clients required the usual greenhouse, raised beds, compost bins and Bel also chose to incorporate a couple of seating areas, to give the clients the opportunity to relax and entertain away from the house. A bespoke Woodpecker greenhouse was designed to benefit from the sunniest spot and the utility features such as  compost bins and the tool store would be hidden behind.  Numerous timber raised beds where designed around a central quadrant feature, reminiscent of traditional Victorian Kitchen Gardens. The quadrant would be planted with pretty 'wild style' planting to echo the meadow area beyond, but offer more colour and interest, wrapped around a dining area at its centre. An additional secluded seating area was incorporated, nestled in a 'meadow-style' planting area, backed with a bespoke linear pergola, offering screening from the neighbours unattractive fence.  Picket fencing would surround the Kitchen Garden to keep the clients dogs away from the prized produce and a decorative Arch would lead through  to the wilder area beyond.