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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

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
Instagram @green_art_garden_design

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

Email info@greenart.co.uk
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A magical garden to share with a loyal friend

by Adam Beasley / on 17th January 2018 /

A magical garden to share with a loyal friend

With a busy lifestyle but keen interest in wildlife and gardening, this client wanted a garden to enjoy all year round. She also wanted to create a feeling of space and security that she could relax in with her loyal companion – her Labrador dog.

A small area of paving and a sloping lawn were replaced with a large curved slate patio across the full width of the house and a spacious upper terrace retained by a slate-faced, curved wall. The upper and lower areas are connected by wide steps that bridge a tranquil water feature flowing through the entire garden, ending in a gentle, pebbled beach area.

A high, curved slate wall incorporates a letter-box water fall to one side of the garden while an archway at the top of the steps leads through to a circular lawn surrounded by deep red and golden Acers, grasses and evergreen shrubs. Lighting throughout brings the garden to life when darkness falls.

View before and after photos here.

Location
Back garden
Iffley, Oxford

Dimensions
15m x 8m

Call 01491 280447 | 07901 977290
Email info@greenart.co.uk
Follow @greenarttweets

A garden designed for the good life

by Adam Beasley / on 4th March 2015 /

A garden designed for the good life

With a passion for gardening and growing their own, these clients wanted space to relax in, safe and easy access to their garden through changing levels and easy-to-manage planting and veg beds that they could enjoy in their retirement.

Crumbling walls and a difficult grassy slope were replaced with a series of safe and accessible terraces linked by steps and enhanced with oak rose arches. A natural stone paved circular terrace, surrounded by planting sits midway to catch the afternoon sun with a waterfall tumbling down a York stone wall into a pond next to an extended patio at ground level.

Paving and compacted gravel surround the greenhouse and oak framed raised veg beds while deep borders full of perennials, shrubs and specimen trees curve around the lawn.

Duration
12 weeks

Location
Back garden
Ewelme, Oxfordshire

Dimensions
30m x 20m

Call 01491 280447 | 07901 977290
Email info@greenart.co.uk
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Creating a legacy in stone

by Adam Beasley / on 4th March 2015 /

Creating a legacy in stone

With their love of the environment in mind, these clients wanted to create a natural swimming pool and wildlife haven in the front garden of their energy-efficient superhome, located close to the town centre and on a busy main road.

Two monumental curved York stone-faced walls helped to dampen the noise of the road while providing privacy and security. A natural swimming pool was dug into the high bank feeding a waterfall into a lower wildlife pond filtered naturally by reeds and gravel.

Grassy banks planted with native species around the ponds slope down to a patio leading off the kitchen and a gravel driveway runs between the sweeping walls down to the road.

Duration
8 weeks

Location
Front garden
Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Dimensions
35m x 18m

Call 01491 280447 | 07901 977290
Email info@greenart.co.uk
Follow @greenarttweets