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Brief: A long garden overlooking the river Thames slopes steeply down from the house. The client wished to use the level changes to best advantage to create distinct tiers and areas for seating and entertaining at different times of the day.
Design: The garden is divided into three levels. Close to the house, a paved area provides room for a café table and chairs. Stepping stone flags laid in the lawn lead past a fruit and vegetable plot to original Yorkstone steps, re-built as an integral part of the new drystone wall terracing. Yorkstone crazy paving from the original patio was recycled on site and used for the new walling.
The planting palette here is soft blues, whites and ornamental grass, enhancing the vista over the river with their muted tones. Within the planting, spheres of steel wire add a structural focal point.
The second level incorporates a dining terrace, paved with Indian sandstone, edged with golden quartzite chippings through which drought tolerant plants are grown to soften the hardlandscaping.
Steps lead down to the sloping lawn, and a deck in locally sourced English Green Oak positioned to catch the setting sun. Here the late season planting takes on deeper hues of cherry red, purple and rust which provide interest long into the autumn and winter.
