Sloping Garden Design
A large steeply sloping garden design in Kenley, Surrey. This large Surrey garden was a real challenge. Set into the side of a steep hill the design required the creation of some serious retaining walls to create the garden structure.
The terrace
The client's brief was for a larger dining terrace outside the conservatory, a large lawn for children to play games on, a patio on the lower garden level to incorporate access for the two enormous irrigation tanks below the lawn, and plenty of planting.
The layout
The new garden had to include and integrate two existing paved terraces and a new shed/garden room for exercise equipment. A key requirement was that the design should include plenty of curved shapes and look interesting when viewed from above.
The driveway
The driveway at the front of the house was to be made larger with a storage area for recycling and waste bins. The design brief was to create a smarter entrance to the house and direct visitors to a new rear entrance porch.
Garden features
The design includes curved, planted terraces with steps linking the upper and lower levels and driveway. The upper terraces and driveway entrance to the garden are made safe with some stunning, bespoke, curved stainless steel railings.
Before
After
The patio
There is a new lower patio with a semi-circular profile that ties it in with the curved lines of the planted terraces and steps on either side of the garden. The lower patio leads into the newly refurbished basement level of the house and incorporates access hatches to the irrigation system below.
The structure
The retaining walls that provide the structure and shape of the new garden are faced with random Purbeck limestone. The joints of the stone facing have been raked out to give a more natural, dry stone effect. The terraces are paved with black Limestone and all joints are pointed with black dyed mortar.
Pergolas
A screen of Cypress trees was removed to reveal an existing pergola which was extended and refurbished. A new raised border was added along the front of the pergola incorporating a semi-circular built-in seat with two peripheral paved areas to display some beautiful antique statues.
Vegetable garden
The utility area and vegetable garden were also given a facelift. An existing retaining wall on the lower garden level was replaced with a timber crib wall planted with trailing plants.
The front garden
In the front garden the enlarged driveway is finished with tumbled black Basalt setts. New railings and automatic gates were installed along the front boundary.