Landscape Design

Permission has just been received with Ben Reed Architects to reconfigure and extend an existing barn by responding to the character of the area with the ‘natural’ landscape being a primary focus for the proposal.  Terrain has dictated the form of the building and garden with terraces at different levels designed to partially embed the house within the ground and surrounded it with planting merging with the woodland to the flanks. Split-levels help create individual spaces which will allow creation of usable gardens for the new family home which looks out over the River Lox and farmland beyond.

Permission gained for the conversion of a derelict farm yard; removal of the modern structures within the courtyard will reduce the intrusion of modern farms buildings and leave the repaired and converted barns embedded within the proposed hedges and groups of trees. Within the central courtyard, a fully enclosed garden will be the main relaxation and family garden space with a swimming pool, small lawn, areas to sit and eat and planted beds all related to and coordinated with the enclosing architecture. Around the buildings, an extensive area will be restored to a more natural landscape with grass, areas of wild flower meadow, native shrubs and a small copse of trees.

The brief for landscape design is to devise a landscape strategy for the whole site that enhances visual aesthetics and the ecological value; creates attractive usable garden space that will accompany a new family home; responds to the character of the area where landscape remains a primary focus of the site, and informs the new building form, with a ‘naturalistic’ garden from that blends with the surround rural landscape; and minimises any impact that new building additions might have, by using suitable planting and designed landscape elements to help screening and embedding the building within the landform.

Ginger the Vizla, fearlessly tries our new zig-zag bridge in the Japanese Garden at Coles. Fabricated from recycled steel reinforcement bars, the narrow bridges is a test of nerves for anyone who fears they may fall in the pond.