Bringing new life - and a sense of ease - to a mature and traditional garden

With well established structural elements such as taxus topiary and espalier pears, this large country garden required a gentle and respectful approach. We have looked to update the garden for its new residents with new seating areas, a cut flower and vegetable garden and large new borders to the front and rear of the house.

With a view to making something manageable for the clients and their gardeners, a naturalistic planting scheme was adopted to provide long seasons of interest, with successional planting and plenty of evergreen plants. Areas of the lawn are left unmown, with a rich tapestry of wildflowers emerging through the grasses at different times of year.

To the front of the house a new wrought iron fence and Ilex crenata hedge create a light and soft new boundary. A subtle new lighting scheme throughout key areas near the house complements the soft, textured planting as does the antique furniture.

PHOTOS BY Mimi Connolly