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A garden created to be kind to the countryside

by Michelle Reynolds / on 21st November 2024 /

A garden created to be kind to the countryside

With a strong desire to connect with nature, this client was keen to welcome wildlife into their garden while making the minimum impact on the environment.

A naturalistic wildlife pond with a tumbling Yorkstone waterfall surrounded by a bank of wildflowers creates the focal point for this design and links with the countryside beyond.  Shallow edges lined with shingle and pebbles and planted with native aquatics create a natural habitat for insects and frogs alongside a vital source of fresh running water all year round, for birds and small mammals.

Places to pause and contemplate in this wildlife haven abound; a soft timber seat set within a low Yorkstone wall leads to a raised terrace with views over fields and hedgerow. A semi-circular patio outside the kitchen door with steps down to the gravel driveway, provides the perfect setting to sit and admire the full effect of the garden.

The dry stone effect Yorkstone wall, winds and curves throughout the garden accommodating the gentle slope with steps and leading the eye from front to back.

Striking mixed and reclaimed paving provides a practical path and surround to a sunny garden room overlooking the pond. This eye-catching effect was designed to minimise the environmental impact of the project and was achieved using local and reclaimed materials.

Planting was chosen to attract particular species of butterflies and other insects and includes favourites such as Lavandula Hidcote and Primula vulgaris. Native species of hedging including Hawthorn, Hazel and Dog Rose create a wildlife corridor connecting the garden to the countryside as well as protection and nesting sites for animals and birds.

Duration
4 weeks

Location
Back garden
South Stoke, Oxon.

Dimensions
35 x 10m


Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
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A quintessential English cottage garden and true work of art

by Michelle Reynolds / on 15th November 2024 /

A quintessential English cottage garden and true work of art

Having returned to the UK after living in the American Southwest for over forty years, this couple looked forward to retiring to a country home surrounded by a picture book cottage garden.

The garden needed to be easy to look after whilst also providing the ‘wow’ factor and ‘instant gratification’ they dreamed of.

Using Indian Sandstone paving, a new raised terraced was created in the corner for outdoor seating and relaxing, shaded by a radiating quarter circle pergola planted with trailing climbers.

A curved line of stepping stones and an edged gravel path lead from the paved areas across the lawn to a sunny bench set in front of fragrant lavender and year-round ground cover.

Close to the house and seating areas, the sweeping herbaceous border was filled with cottage-garden classics of roses, geraniums, nepeta and a purple blaze of Penstemon ‘Midnight Masquerade’ to provide drama, colour and interest.

Flowing through the whole garden is the creamy, textured Yorkstone wall that not only incorporates a Douglas Fir seat, but also the structure for easy-to-manage raised beds that are home to a thick Taxus baccata (Yew) hedge.

Purple Heuchera Obsidians and Geranium ‘Brookside’ stand out against the deep green backdrop of the Yew, small fireworks of Sesleria autumnalis add some height and fluffy texture, and a small fernery sits nestled in the corner, leaves unfurling and spilling over the wall.

Duration
3 weeks

Location
Back garden
Benson, Oxon.

Dimensions
18 x 7m


Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
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timber pergola housing a sophisticated BBQ in the background. Raised garden beds and pond with water feature surround an entertaining area.

A garden for all seasons

by Michelle Reynolds / on 17th April 2024 /

A garden for all seasons

With a busy life-style juggling running a business and bringing up a young family, these clients needed a stylish, multi-purpose garden to complement their newly renovated dream home.  Creating a safe space for kids’ football while providing a place to relax and entertain friends was the design challenge achieved with individual garden rooms.

Reclaimed brickwork to match the house defined each area with open ‘windows’ between the spaces.  Two contrasting water features help to separate seating areas and open garden as well as providing a focal point and a home for wildlife.

Densely-planted curved boarders, raised beds and large planters bring all year colour and interest to the garden. Evergreen foliage, flowering shrubs and summer-blooming perennials deliver bursts of colour alongside mature specimen trees for privacy and dappled shady corners.

A beautiful timber pergola shelters the sophisticated outdoor kitchen and a smaller, green rooved gazebo provides welcome shade on the sunny terrace – the perfect place to switch off after a busy day.

Following a path under scented arches of climbers brings you to a raised dining space alongside a large patio leading off the kitchen.  A formal circular pond breaks through the lines of this design to create an intimate haven to chill in during rare moments of peace, as well as a practical space for family meal times.

After years of house renovation and disruption, the swift and efficient creation of a garden for all seasons in just a couple of months, brought this project to its perfect conclusion.

Duration
10 weeks

Location
Two sides of the house
Binfield, Berks

Dimensions
Quarter acre approx


Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
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Open bifold doors of this new detached house open onto an Italian-inspired courtyard complete with feature brick and flint circular pond.

Making a new home complete

by Michelle Reynolds / on 18th March 2024 /

Making a new home complete

Creating a welcoming and practical outdoor extension to a prestigious new home was the objective of this garden design.  With open space on three sides of a large detached new build property, the challenge was to create three separate but complementary garden rooms to allow for outdoor dining, relaxation and space for two energetic dogs.

At the core of this garden design was the relationship between the inside and outside and the connection of one to the other.  At the centre of the house, bifold doors open out from the living / dining room onto an Italian-inspired courtyard complete with a circular brick and flint pool.  A raised corner terrace provides a sunny and tranquil place to sit and enjoy the gurgling fountain while planting reflects the Mediterranean feel as well as a source of pollen for the bees and other insects.

Either side of the courtyard pencil Cypress trees separate the three garden rooms, while black steel estate fencing makes sure the dogs stay safe in their own space.

The larger, informal garden includes a generous entertaining area of tumbled limestone paving finished with neat brick edging, allowing plenty of space for outdoor eating as well as for enjoying the sun as it moves around the house during the day.  Sweeping in graceful curves, this paving continues all around the house through each of the garden areas to lead you from one space to the next.

The lawn, surrounded by curved borders of brightly colours perennials, evergreen and flowering shrubs as well as specimen trees allows space for family and pets to have fun in as well as all year-round interest to enjoy from the comfort of the lounge and study.

A mix of formal and informal characterises the garden to the side where the back door opens to a circular bed of roses and softens into the surrounding landscape with a mixture of orchard planting, wildflower meadow and climbers on the boundary fences.

The little details that make a difference included fixed seating to maximise space and a reclaimed Belfast sink for washing muddy paws in.

“George and his team were great to work with from start to finish.  The design works perfectly and I absolutely love spending time in the garden.  It’s made our new home complete.”

Duration
5 weeks

Location
Three sides of the house
Benson, Oxon

Dimensions
25m x 25m approx


Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
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A dream garden for a ‘forever’ home

by Michelle Reynolds / on 5th October 2022 /

A dream garden for a ‘forever’ home

Transforming an empty space into a garden that could be enjoyed for many years to come, was the challenge set by the owners of this new house. The brief was to create a dream garden for this family’s ‘forever’ home that would provide areas for entertaining and relaxing all year round.

Although it was a new build, changing levels, poor drainage and soil quality all had to be taken into account in order to create an accessible, practical and private garden that was also beautiful to look at throughout the seasons.

Central to the design was the use of Welsh pillared slate to create low retaining walls and steps that lead to a large relaxed covered seating area surrounded by scented planting and climbers. Sawn-edged graphite limestone paving gives a contemporary feel, contrasting with the slate walling and sea-washed pebbles used as a mulch in the beds.

Stepping stones through gravel surrounding a fire-pit and cedar-topped seating lead to and from the sheltered outdoor cooking area and greenhouse to make the best use of the space behind the garage. In contrast, a large lawn softens the overall design and makes a feature of a striking specimen shrub.

A square raised bed next to a lower patio provide space for outdoor eating and to sit with a drink while enjoying the sound of bubbling water and the bees visiting the flowering shrubs and perennials.

“Right from the start of our project George and his team were brilliant, the guys onsite were professional and knowledgeable and we are so happy with the end result”

Duration
10 weeks

Location
Back garden
Benson, Oxon

Dimensions
15m x 25m approx

Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
Instagram @green_art_garden_design

New home, new family garden

by Michelle Reynolds / on 4th October 2022 /

New home, new family garden

With busy working lives and a young family’s future to think about, the garden of this new house needed to be practical and easy to maintain without compromising design or breaking the bank.

The solution was an innovative layout that maximises the space and places a new circular seating area in a sunny spot. Brick edging to the paving and path provides greater definition and leads the eye in a curving sweep to create an illusion of space and a flow to the garden.

Pleached ornamental pear trees, Pyrus ‘Chanticleer, are planted to give privacy from neighbouring properties and a variety of evergreen and flowering shrubs, climbers and perennials provide interest and colour and help to screen the boundary fencing.

To maximise the budget, some of the existing patio paving was lifted and re-used to extend the children’s play area and a bespoke playhouse was designed and built to create shade and keep toys tidy. A free-standing vegetable bed was installed near the kitchen window to give a fun way to introduce children to gardening.

On-going maintenance is kept to a minimum with the choice of planting and an irrigation system consisting of controlled drip-lines in the beds and pop-up sprinklers in the lawn.

The overall effect is modern, clean and tidy whilst still having distinct areas of interest for grown-ups and children to enjoy all year round.

Duration
2 weeks

Location
Back garden
Benson, Oxon

Dimensions
12m x 9m approx

Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
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Garden Design

A garden designed to create the perfect work-life balance

by Michelle Reynolds / on 10th June 2022 /

A garden designed to create the perfect work-life balance

Having renovated their family home to see them into retirement, this couple wanted a garden that provided relaxing views from their garden office, a place to unwind during the working day and a space to entertain in the evenings and weekends.

The stunning curved design created a ‘back-bone’ of reclaimed brick, inset with panels of Yorkstone walling to link together a series of features.

A circular lily pond, wrapped in warm cedar benches and raised beds, creates the perfect environment to relax with the sound of bubbling water and the scent of aromatic plants.

The outdoor kitchen and BBQ sit under an oak pergola with a partial sedum roof to create shade and a habitat for wildlife, while another cedar seat around a fire-pit continuse the curves and provide an ideal communal gathering space.

To provide space for outdoor eating and entertaining and also enhance the illusion of space, light-coloured English Yorkstone paving was laid in lines narrowing to a path that leads the eye towards the garden beyond.

The overall effect is peaceful and relaxing yet full of year-round colour and interest.

Duration
12 weeks

Location
Back garden
Benson, Oxon

Dimensions
25m x 15m approx

Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
Instagram @green_art_garden_design

Stress-free gardening in retirement

by Adam Beasley / on 30th July 2020 /

Stress-free gardening in retirement

Having a practical yet beautiful outdoor space to enjoy the summer and impending retirement, was the priority for this couple. With more time on their hands, they also wanted to grow their own veg but still needed a garden that was easy to maintain.

A beautifully curved Cotswold Stone wall with deep coping stones provides seating either side of a bespoke built-in barbeque and storage cupboard with stainless steel doors. Generous Limestone paving provides the seating area for outdoor dining with wide steps up to a pathleading to a second patio to catch the evening sun.

A dull side passage was transformed into a spacious utility area with a raised veg bed built to maximise the space, trellis to hide the bins and plenty of paving and gravelled areas for pots and planters.

Using a variety of flowering and evergreen shrubs, herbaceous perennials and shade-loving plants that will thrive under an established Lime tree, easy-to-manage borders were planted to include specimen shrubs to give instant impact.

Twelve new bays of close board fencing provide security and privacy as well as the backdrop for climbing shrubs and vegetables.

Duration
4 weeks

Location
Front and side garden
Wallingford, Oxon

Dimensions
10m x 15m approx

Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
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All-round gardening on every level

by Adam Beasley / on 30th July 2020 /

All-round gardening on every level

A deceptively large, established garden on three sides of the property on different levels created challenges for access and mobility for this retired couple with a keen interest in gardening and growing-their-own. With young grandchildren wanting a safe place to play and family and friends to entertain, their garden is an important part of home-life.

A large semi-circular Tumbled Limestone patio above a brick retaining wall provides the ideal space for seating,leading down a set of steps to a brick-edged circular patio with ample space for a large table and chairs. Lawns either side of the paths, sloping gradually from front to back, provide plenty of space for safe play for grandchildren, so the whole family can enjoy the garden together.

Narrow raised beds provide the perfect place to grow vegetables with plenty of hard standing for a future greenhouse and a sunny bed for soft fruit bushes. A combination of evergreen shrubs, small trees and plenty of herbaceous perennials and bulbs ensure this garden has all-year round colour and interest.

Trellis fencing separates the front garden from the rear to provide added security without losing a sense of space, while a Limestone block paving driveway provides a welcome entrance and space for several cars.

Duration
5 weeks

Location
Front, side and rear garden
Henley-on-Thames, Oxon

Dimensions
21m x 19m approx

Call 01491 280447

Email info@greenart.co.uk
Facebook @greenartoxford
Instagram @green_art_garden_design

The Ups and Downs of creating a family garden

by Barry O'Brien / on 23rd October 2018 /

The Ups and Downs of creating a family garden

Creating a safe and practical space for the whole family to enjoy may not seem such an onerous task. However, when the gradient of the garden is close to 45 degrees and you can see over the top of the house from the end of the garden, most designers and landscapers would run a mile.

With many years’ experience of designing and building gardens in challenging environments, George was able to visualise the end result and reassure the client throughout the project that the team at GreenArt could deliver the impossible.

A series of curved dry stone effect Yorkstone walls set into the landscape retain the hillside to create a large terrace and flat lawn bordered by deep beds. Wide Yorkstone steps give access to the top of the garden where a belvedere provides a stunning view towards the Downs.

Planting pockets filled with climbers and perennials soften the stonework, while the family’s favourite fruit trees are underplanted with bulbs and low-growing shrubs.

Evergreen hedging and practical fencing provide peace of mind at the front of the newly refurbished family home to ensure the safety of young children playing in the garden.

View more photos of this fantastic garden here

Duration
10 weeks

Location
Front and back garden
Streatley, Berkshire

Dimensions
Half an acre

Call 01491 280447

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