There is no mistaking that we’ve been inspired by the seashore in designing this garden. With the water’s edge style planting and weathered decking, you can almost smell the sea!

If you are not a fan of formal gardens, this one is a masterclass in how structure can actually add to the relaxed feel. It’s perhaps as far from the high-style look of our Club Lounge garden as you can get!  This plot is a fairly long but narrow space so we have divided it up into sections, which actually make the space feel much bigger than it really is.

Those spaces start with the patio area, with the comfortable wooden seat, the retractable awning and room for a table or dining space.  All this is surrounded by lush, established shrubs which provide privacy from neighbours and dampen sound (and pollution). 

The second space is our bridge and pond area.  We’ve used an old lock wheel and weir mechanism to give a sense of nature taking over a previously man-made space, and the large rocks make it feel super naturalistic.  There is a contrast in planting here, too, with generally shade- and damp-loving ferns near the water and more drought tolerant plants in the gravel over the bridge.

Finally, we have recycled sturdy wooden batons and Corten steels to create a circular patio area.  This space would be ideal for a fire pit in the winter or a circular dining table in the summer!  The established planting around the outside of the circle contributes to the sense of being protected, almost as though you are floating inside the garden.

If you are a fan of natural planting schemes or using post-industrial objects to enhance nature, we know you will find inspiration here.