Arts and Crafts Garden
Arts & Crafts Garden, Hertfordshire
My clients have a beautiful Arts and Crafts house in the Chilterns. I was asked to design a concept plan for their Arts and Crafts style garden that could be developed over time.
Parts of the garden have original steps and terraces, while other areas were overgrown or had been developed haphazardly by various owners over the years. Four mature trees had Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s) on them and were in good condition (shown on the plan in black), but others needed removing to allow the garden to breathe again.
The garden was a delight to design. I suggested Lutyens style circular steps to improve an existing entrance point onto the formal lawn with borders each side and good views from the house. Existing feature trees were given more space and set off in front of formal clipped hedging. The children had an amazing tree house so I created more space around this, but kept the den-like quality. There was space for wildflower meadows, topiary, a labyrinth for meditative walks, an exotic garden inspired by the garden at Great Dixter, soothing water gardens, and new fruit orchards to encourage bees and pollinators.
A stone built gazebo with shelter from sun and rain overlooks a formal lawn and long vista across the garden, and tucked away by the orchard, a gnarled wooden grotto made from branches of old trees. As the well-used swimming pool was a focal point in the garden, I suggested a new permanent pool building in a style to suit the surroundings.
After a kitchen extension, the stone terrace needed remodelling around the house so that the whole space worked together once more. New steps and paths to the greenhouse and vegetable garden were essential as these areas are used all year round.
Now they had a plan, my clients were able to take the project forwards and I heard today that the garden is under construction! I’m delighted that my design has enabled them to have a satisfying garden that works for the house, it’s history, and the present and future needs of the whole family.