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

The post Garden in Washington appeared first on Anna Dekker Garden Design.

Listening tubes for students to experiment with sound

Detail of school garden design

The planting is starting to mature

An unloved corner adjacent to the special needs unit of a Northumberland school was transformed into an immersive sensory retreat. We had a limited budget and an imaginative approach was required for the design. We left some of the existing pavers in situ and this acted as a framework for a tapestry of carefully selected plant species to spread and spill out over the paving.

We used materials and plants that allowed the students to have a varied experience. The garden was zoned to highlight each of the senses, so one area had a pond with a bubbling fountain and a listening tube, and was planted with grasses that would rustle in the breeze. Another area had tactile plants for the students to feel, another had scented plants, both flowers and leaves.

These were all punctuated with features such as a willow arbour (we used a local willow artist to work with some of the students) for quiet contemplation, some balancing blocks which doubled as seats and a rubber safety area for informal sports in the school colours.

Gallery

We started by painting the fence and adding a Cornus hedge for winter colour

an imaginative approach was required for the design

Existing pavers left in situ to act as a framework

We used materials and plants that allowed the students to have a varied experience

We used materials and plants that allowed the students to have a varied experience

A pond with a bubbling fountain

Listening tubes for students to experiment with sound

A willow arbour for quiet contemplation

Balancing blocks

The planting in the garden begins

The planting is starting to mature

The garden in full summer bloom

The post School Grounds – Northumberland appeared first on Anna Dekker Garden Design.

This project in the northeast of England included the transformation of a derelict coal mine into a forest park, with a range of distinct habitats and spaces across 99 hectares. We created a series of zones of varied terrain, including a lake, a waterfall and forest, integrating the new landscape with the adjacent existing woodland. Focal points, created by local artists, are connected by a series of accessible footpaths.

The lake has been colonised naturally by vegetation and wildlife, and the forest park is now well established. The park is a public and educational resource, serving walkers, riders, cyclists and local schools.

Find out more about Watergate Forest Park.

Salix cuttings ready to plant around the site

Views of the lake naturally filled by 5 streams, with site works almost complete

View across the lake in winter

View of the lake, now filled

Settling ponds, prior to being planted

Salix detail

Salix becoming established on the lakeside

Salix in bud

Marginal planting

The lake in summer

Greenheart sculpture by William Pym

Swan

The lake in winter

Winter birdlife

Site Design

This scheme started as a decommissioned coal mine with an underground fire. The local authority carried out reclamation works, leaving the site safe and ready for the landscaping phase.

Over the following five years, I worked as part of a team to design and deliver landscape works across the site. The initial phases involved the development of sports pitches, enhancements to the nursery showground, and parking facilities. The final phase included extensive planting, a network of accessible footpaths and bridlepaths with interpretation signage and waymarkers throughout.

The site was planted predominantly with native species to create mixed woodland, hazel coppice, heathland and marginal planting. Additionally, we planted 160 varieties of Salix taken from cuttings from a national collection.

Aerial view of Watergate Forest Park as it is today. Image courtesy of Google Earth

Outline planting plan including Salix locations

Sketches of sections throughout the park

Detail of planting blocks around ponds

The post Forest Park – Watergate appeared first on Anna Dekker Garden Design.

This local authority scheme started as a wasteland

In just under two years it was transformed into a functioning cemetery with seasonal planting

This local authority scheme started as a wasteland, which had previously been a quarry, then a landfill site.  In just under two years it was transformed into a functioning cemetery with seasonal planting, using a tranquil colour palette of white and purple. The need to cap the contaminated land meant that material had to be imported and spread across the site, and tied into the existing levels. This resulted in the landscape changing from a bowl in profile to a mound. What began as a challenge became an asset. The hilltop gave the chance to create views across the space.  We designed new railings and gates to withstand the impact of heavy vehicles on a downhill bend on one edge of the site.

From the entrance, paths lead around the parkland-style cemetery, with open lawns, ornamental and specimen trees and shrubs. To the east of the site we enhanced an existing wooded dene with a stream which flows into a pond on the northwest side of the cemetery.

Browse the Full Gallery

This local authority scheme started as a wasteland

In just under two years it was transformed into a functioning cemetery with seasonal planting

A tranquil colour palette of white and purple flowers

The same view under construction and after completion

Bespoke gates and railings

Bespoke gates

Bespoke railings designed to withstand the impact of heavy vehicles

Bespoke bins and water points are spread around the site

Planting is used to screen the utility areas

Paths weave through seasonal planting

Site Design

One of the design challenges was to separate mourners and utility vehicles as discreetly as possible, using a combination of layout, circulation and screening with plants. Careful detailing of the hard landscape features was required to ensure that kerb edges etc were robust enough to cope with the circulation and movement of utility vehicles.

Hard Landscaping Details

Outline Planting Plan

The post Cemetery – Gateshead appeared first on Anna Dekker Garden Design.