Heathland garden - Surrey

This project near Frensham ponds in Surrey comprises a 3-acre garden on the side of a steep slope adjoining a beautiful area of National Trust heathland. The existing garden had poor acidic soil and large areas of neglected Rhododendrons and non-native trees including Leylandii that blocked views and marred the space.

A complete overhaul of the house included an extension into the bank to the North East requiring terracing works to allow for the enlarged footprint. Clearance of the existing non-native trees enabled the garden to link to the heathland beyond and provided space for wildflower meadows and a future orchard to the East and West.

Corten steel edging, steps and estate railing and gates reflect the countryside setting and also introduce a contemporary theme. A formal lawn to the South of the house is now bounded at either end by terraces with flower beds filled with tough naturalistic plantings of grasses, Salvia and Rosa rugosa that connect to the heathland as well as being appropriate to the poor soils. A new kitchen garden is proposed to the North and parking has been rationalized to provide an arrival with year-round structure. The existing areas of Rhododendron planting have been opened up to create multi-stems and paths that encourage you out into the seeded wildflower meadows and up to a terrace for entertaining that looks down the garden.