Large Garden Design
A large garden in Denham Village, Buckingamshire
A large project
This is a one-acre garden around a new-build timber-framed house in Denham Village, Buckinghamshire with several level changes. Half the garden was overgrown woodland which was to be kept as part of the final scheme, but improved so that it could be used. The clients love being outside and wanted to be able to enjoy the garden for as much of the year as possible. They asked for a garden that complemented the house, enabled large family gatherings and had planting that gave year-round colour and interest.
Luxury features
The brief included a swimming pool with a hot tub, screening for a solar array, a parterre and a woodland clearing as a place for quiet reflection. Another main part of the brief was to supply plans that would assist the client’s planning consultant to get planning consent in this sensitive conservation area.
The layout
The final scheme includes a large, raised pool terrace accessed from the house by a set of curved steps. This area includes a pool house that is designed to match the style of the house and a sunken hot tub. The solar array is screened by dressing it with left-over flint from the construction of the garden walls and planting it with Alpine plants – this has been particularly successful. Also helping to screen the solar array is a seating area enclosed by clipped Hornbeam hedging that provides a more intimate space to sit and relax in this large garden.
The front garden
The front of the house is approached through a traditional parterre with Box hedging and Lavender. The paving in this area is resin-bound gravel.
Before
After
Surrounding areas
The perimeter walls and those separating the woodland area from the main garden area are constructed in flint and brick which is are traditional building materials for this area.
Woodland area
The woodland area has been gentrified by clearing the scrub and removing some of the overcrowded trees, and tidying up the remaining trees. Sinuous gravel pathways create an interesting journey around this area. There is a seating area in a clearing with benches and a fire pit where the clients can sit and reflect in complete peace and quiet.
Outdoor kitchen
There is an outdoor kitchen and seating area on the lower terrace by the house. This is fully equipped with a sink, refrigerator, built-in barbeque, smoker and pizza oven, all screened with a large central parasol.
Planting
Planting is more formal to the front of the house with standard Photinia ‘Red Robin’ under-planted with Pittosporum ‘Golf Ball’, softened with grasses and perennials. To the sides and rear of the property a mixture of grasses and perennials with a backdrop of native hedging help to blend the garden into its natural setting. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ cascade down walls, and the tufty tails of Pennisetum ‘Villosum’ punctuate all the borders.