A Shed with a view

We often hear the idea of ‘borrowed landscapes’, looking beyond the boundaries at external features to help anchor the garden within. Sometimes though, a landscape screams so loud that every decision is dictated by what lies beyond.

The panorama of this steeply sloping garden in South Wales is quite breathtaking. The garden flows almost seamlessly into the rolling valleys and mountains beyond so the changes within needed a sensitive hand.

The clients had been growing fruit, veg and cut flowers in a tucked away section of the garden and wanted something a little easier on the back!

The first task was to sculpt a new flat terrace on which to create the productive garden. To keep the harmony with the landscape beyond, hard materials were kept to a minimum and always natural.

A beautiful cedar potting took centre stage in this tucked away new space. The half shed, half greenhouse took up little space but gave the clients so much, including the perfect refuge and viewing gallery when the weather hits (and believe me it really does hit here).

Oak raised beds snaked around the space, hugging the boundary and shed allowing for far easier growing.

Steel edging held the undulating curves of the gravel base, while Erigeron, Creeping thymes and Saxifraga × urbium added moments of free-flowing detail.  

A water source was hugely important, so a beautiful, old galvanised water tank, serendipitously found half submerged in the field, became the perfect reservoir. Fed by rain water harvested from the shed roof, a practical necessity became a grounding detail and a link to the landscape beyond.

Puddingstones cover the area and also the garden. These, sometimes huge, conglomerate rocks have beautiful textures and details and were a gift to design with. By adding more Creeping thyme and Erigeron into gaps in the stones, we created a metropolis of habitats for all manner of wildlife.

With such a beautiful productive garden in place, the journey around the lower part of the garden also needed addressing. A characterful split post and rail chestnut fence was added along the length of the boundary, creating the perfect link with the more rural landscape beyond. An orchard of 17 fruit trees was planted, all with varying blossom colours and timings for a beautiful, extended display. All underplanted by a mix of annual and perennial wildflowers.

In an unloved, but highly used, area of the garden more puddingstones were assembled to create a sweeping journey and interplanted with a mixture of grasses and perennials for a naturalistic display.

Several more areas and details were added to maximise the space and ease the journey around this steep garden. The result is a garden that sits happily in the landscape and gives the clients everything they needed and much more.

Now’s the perfect time to start planning your new garden. Why not get in touch today and see how I could help bring your garden dreams to life?