Contemporary Woodland Garden

Design Brief

Large gardens offer great opportunities for creating different areas. This family garden had the best of both worlds, with an upper garden with a courtyard feel and water feature, a middle area suitable for lush planting and a lower woodland area. However, the biggest challenge was the woodland area which had to be designed to make it more inviting to venture down into since it was accessed by pathways which sloped steeply down from the upper gardens.

By installing a series of woodland walks, summerhouse, decks and contemporary seating areas comprising of rendered walling, the woodland now invites visitors and family members to explore the lower parts of the garden throughout the year. The coloured seating areas have an artistic charm of their own and interact with the woodland flora as it changes through the seasons.

A lighting system gives the woodland a magical feel at night whilst ensuring steps and seating areas are also safe to use.

  • The upper garden borders

    The upper garden borders

  • Woodland summerhouse

    Woodland summerhouse

  • Contemporary seating

    Contemporary seating

  • Natural materials

    Natural materials

  • Form and function

    Form and function

  • Architectural planting

    Architectural planting

  • Simplicity of form

    Simplicity of form

  • Family garden for all

    Family garden for all

  • The upper garden borders
  • Woodland summerhouse
  • Contemporary seating
  • Natural materials
  • Form and function
  • Architectural planting
  • Simplicity of form
  • Family garden for all

Sample Plants

Phygelius 'Salmon Leap', Phormium 'Yellow Wave', Stipa tenuissima, Ribes 'Brocklebankii', Deschampsia 'Goldtau', Iris foetidissima, Pulmonaria 'Diane Claire', Sisyrinchium striatum, Tellima grandiflora, Blechnum spicant, Polystichum munitum

Materials

Colour rendered block walling, timber decking, timber pergola, natural sandstone paving, oak steps, timber boardwalk, lighting