Gallery

A sloped garden in Tavistock

This garden originally had a pebbly, artificial stream running down one side and a sloped lawn. The garden was stripped back so that terracing now provides usable sitting areas. Curved steps give coherency to an upper seating area with a pergola, and the water feature is now a circular pool with a cascading waterfall. Soft planting, the sound of water and cool colour tones of plants, painted pergola and fence provide the owners of this garden with a peaceful and beautiful place to be in.

Pool and planted borders in a landscaped garden

Pergola in a beautiful garden

Circular pool and borders

Upper seating area under a pergola

A sloped garden in Whitchurch

Another sloped garden which required levelling and restructuring to create usable areas and an injection of character. When I arrived, an uninviting set of narrow, granite steps led to a lower courtyard where the clients enjoyed sitting and eating. As lovely as these steps were, they presented a rather narrow, awkward entranceway. Curved, open steps now replace these, gently guiding the visitor to the sitting area below. The granite steps have definitely not gone to waste! They have been relocated further up the garden, where they are much better suited creating an elegant access from a levelled lawn with a central granite trough, to an upper area with a pergola.

Curved steps leading to a garden courtyard

Levelled area of a garden with granite steps

Curved stone steps sweep into the lower courtyard

Narrow steps relocated giving access to the lawn and granite trough

A blank canvas in Plympton

This garden with its gravelly slope and little else, needed to be easily accessible and a joy to be in. Curved steps, raised beds and a summerhouse now provide a space that guides the owner gently through, with places to stop and spend time along the way. The owner has chosen to do the planting herself, and visiting the garden is like meeting the family, with plants that she has brought from her previous garden, and others given to her by friends and relatives.

BEFORE

Landscaped garden in Plympton with raised beds

Landscaped garden in Plympton with curved steps

AFTER: Raised beds, circular lawn and steps with railings

AFTER: Curved steps gently lead down to the summerhouse and lower lawn

A new-build garden in Tavistock

On my arrival, this was a typical 'new build' garden with a strip of paving, too narrow for setting up outdoor table and chairs, and an expanse of lawn. This was a level garden (not too many of those in Tavistock!) so we definitely needed some vertical interest. A pergola now wends its way towards a relaxing sitting area next to a pool. In turn, the pergola creates a vista of a bench set in meadow planting, and the Devon bank beyond with its stately oak tree makes the garden feel at one with the surrounding countryside. Because a mature feel was needed for this garden, large trees were planted to instantly provide a sense of establishment.

A garden before work begins with a pile of topsoil and large puddle of water

A new-build garden before work begins

BEFORE: The garden on my initial visit with the garage still under construction

BEFORE : This part of the garden has been transformed into the peaceful seating area below!

The garden now landscaped garden with pond

The garden now landscaped with percola and seating area

AFTER

A vegetable patch in a garden near Mary Tavy

A previously barren vegetable garden was transformed into a bourgeoning potager, designed to look its very best on August 1st. This is the day of the Pagan autumn harvest, and as such, the chosen date for a Pagan family wedding, taking place in their garden. A space for guests to wander around, and fortunately, a day with glorious weather too!

A potager in need of attention

A potager now full of colourful planting

BEFORE

AFTER