Norman & Zoe contacted me back in February 2017 to talk to me about designing their new garden in the heart of the Cotswolds. It was a fascinating project although for them had been quite a trying one as they had endured struggles with the folks at the planning office. Theirs is a Tudor cottage surrounded by glorious views of the Cotswolds. The architects’ scheme added a very contemporary semi subterranean extension to this pretty Tudor dolls house with lots of glass & clean lines. My clients wanted me to create a landscape design to blend it all together.
I like a challenge & love the Cotswolds too so set to work. There was a wish list featuring a corten steel amphitheatre – how very exciting! Also lots of colour throughout the year, charcoal Millboard decking, porcelain flags, a water feature, wild flower meadow & some topiary clouds.
There was a problem my design had to overcome of level changes which were quite the challenge as the buildings are in fact cut into the side of a hill. The subterranean section of the new building was a particular issue. Guy Jones of Emotive Landscapes was commissioned to build the garden & with a lot of head scratching for the entire team it’s became a huge success. Indeed this scheme has won architectural awards & featured in magazines too which we are delighted about.
Lanes Cottage is very much off the beaten track & very private. On entering I was welcomed by the wild flower meadow on my left seen here with added camassias by Guy & the pretty orchard on my right. The sweet cottage is the focal point amongst the flowers with a pair of huge topiary clouds beside it. Connecting this cottage style garden to the contemporary corten amphitheatre is the rill. A very simple device that works beautifully. At the other end is a stylish fire bowl & off beyond the land sculpture & specimen acer ‘Autumn blaze’ are the wonderful views – a seamless transition.
I’ve had fantastic responses already to this garden & Norman & Zoe have called it a Joy. I am very proud to have been a part of it.
