Place

This client is a busy family with diverse and changing needs, including wheelchair access. They are committed to actively contributing to the garden’s development. The existing mature garden on a corner plot, sloping upwards from the house, has a tapestry of micro-climates. It enjoys a sunny aspect but also presents some challenges, being bordered by a busy road and overlooked from below. The site includes features worth preserving, such as certain retaining walls, two small ponds, and some outstanding mature plants.

Back and side of garden from pavement on main road

Yard adjacent to back door

View to top of garden showing condition of steps

Brief

Key considerations include screening from the busy road and optimizing the garden’s orientation to create productive spaces, including an orchard, while also encouraging wildlife. A thoughtful and strategic approach is needed to maximize accessible, usable areas for a variety of activities, incorporating some of the existing structures; this involves rebuilding some of the degraded steps and retaining walls and replacing them with ramps where appropriate.

Work in Progress

Structural work to the retaining walls and addition of ramps will commence once works on the house have been completed. Options are being considered for disabled access between the lowest level and one of the higher, sunnier spaces. Meanwhile, a meadow and an orchard have been planted up, and a hedge to screen the busy road has been established.

Sketch of garden and site analysis

Partially complete wheelchair ramp

Planting up the bed surrounded by the wheelchair ramp

Preparing to establish wildflower meadow

Orchard starting to take shape

Detail of wildflower meadow sown with yellow rattle

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Place

For a busy young professional in Newcastle city centre with a limited budget. This is her first outdoor space; an unwelcoming urban yard.

Overview of yard

Stairs up to flat and gate to back alley

Area to be paved

Brief

To transform this yard into a cosy and inviting retreat and a place to relax and enjoy. Referencing the first-floor flat’s interior colour scheme, the space needed to include seating and raised beds. Low-maintenance planting can provide a gentle introduction to gardening.

Site analysis and hard landscaping proposals

Sketch proposals

Tidied yard seen from back gate before painting

Finished Project

This design approach successfully transformed the yard into a cosy, multifunctional space that feels like an extension of the home, perfect for relaxing and sitting with friends and family.

• The fencing and raised beds were painted to complement the flat’s interior, and this is echoed in the planters, and decorative accessories, including folding chair, ensuring a cohesive look.
• Pebbles and porcelain pavers make an attractive surface and add warmth, making it feel like an inviting outdoor room.
• Soft lighting from a solar-powered lantern enhances the cozy atmosphere, making the space inviting during the evening.
• The raised beds add structure to the yard, giving an attractive backdrop to the seating area.
• Climbing plants and trellises provide natural screening, offering privacy and adding greenery to soften the yard’s boundaries.
• Low-maintenance plants, including hardy perennials, ornamental grasses, and evergreen shrubs, provide year-round interest with minimal upkeep.

Gallery

Paving in progress

Paving completed, with refurbished gate and painted walls

Overview of completed yard

Low maintenance planting

Lilies and agapanthus

Mint and corten steel panels

Acer

Thalictrum and obelisk

Planting detail

Planting after 8 weeks

Solar-powered lantern

Acer and thalictrum provide contrast to pelargonium flowers

Testimonial

I am absolutely delighted with the garden which Anna designed and built for my small outdoor space on a very tight budget. She completely understood my vision and has been able to bring it to life. Anna thoughtfully and thoroughly planned every little detail, supplementing with ‘found’ materials, to make my little garden utterly perfect!

Grace, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Place

The front garden is gently sloping and sunny with an open aspect.

The back garden is also gently sloping, having several structures which break it up into a series of slightly disconnected spaces.

The owner requires minimal intervention, making the most of existing features, and is willing to invest time and effort into the garden’s development, and some garden maintenance.

Front garden from pavement

Front garden - existing beds

Damp area in front garden

Brief

To pull these diverse elements together so that the different parts of the garden can flow coherently, maximising the space for different activities, including a productive garden. The client would like to retain the Arts and Crafts aesthetic of the house and neighbourhood whilst updating the different parts of the garden to provide contemporary and private spaces to grow food, relax and entertain in.

She also would like a phased plan so that she can budget accordingly.

the design

A concept plan is being developed which will make better use of the site’s orientation to create a series of interconnected garden rooms, resulting in a more cohesive design. The different spaces used different colour themes, which helped provide a framework for the client when she moves existing plants around, and when choosing new plants.

I worked with the client to come up with some quick wins that she can carry out immediately, and in advance of the full masterplan and construction work. The first phase will concentrate on the front garden with a planting plan, as no construction work is required here.

Site analysis of front and back gardens

Mood board for planting ideas

Work begins on access from patio to gazebo

front garden

I designed the planting in the front garden to incorporate some existing planting, expanding the beds and adding further beds for a second phase. The placing of the beds took into account the existing short-cuts taken by visitors across the front lawn, and used a theme of jewel colours.

Planting plan Phase 1 for front garden

New planting beds in progress

Testimonial

Anna designed a plan for bed placement and a planting plan with my colour preferences in mind for the first phase. I can follow the designs at my own pace which works really well for me. Each stage of the design allows for the space to be completed and looks good before i move on to the next step. Anna has designed to maximize existing features while giving suggestions for small changes with big impact. I would never have been able to come up with these thoughtful ideas on my own! Very insightful and encouraging! I’m looking forward to the next phase!

Ruth, Washington

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