Gardens: Design solutions

IT IS not surprising that enquiries for design have reduced in the last month. The weather has curtailed all enthusiasm and interest in the garden.

I have been working regularly, maintaining three gardens where my clients are very happy and enthused by the result, as they can see the physical changes. In both the weather and financial climate, persuading anyone to embark on a new project is a challenge.

I am, however, about to start a lovely project where the levels will create problems and the design is dictated by numerous site restrictions. This will be an awkward job as there is a significant drainage problem, due to the house being built into an excavated slope.

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The site has flooded several times, so I will have to carefully consider the materials and location of platforms to allow my clients to enjoy this space and get maximum benefit from steep, sloping land. Fortunately, the slope runs towards the house so the view of the garden can be enjoyed from the public rooms.

It is on these types of projects that an experienced designer can be particularly beneficial. Time has to be taken to carefully record and measure all elements of the garden, and accurate levels are essential to find the best height 
for any horizontal platforms.

If retaining walls are needed, it can become a very costly exercise. Timber platforms can be used to keep costs to a minimum as they don’t need supporting walls, but they don’t always suit the style of the house or garden.

Projecting out from a slope that falls away from the house can create a view when looked down on from an upstairs window or balcony. This can be used to entice the user into their garden as a conscious effort has to be made to make a long journey into the garden and down a steep slope.

Creating paths ramping or stepping across the slope makes the area more accessible and sometimes the most interesting views are across adjacent gardens, rather than directly down or up 
a slope.

Diane Pyper (01506 414459; 
[email protected]; www.NewDimensionsGD.com)

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