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Priory Garden
 

This large garden surrounds a 17th century priory and has been in the same family for more than 20 years and had been used for the whole family's enjoyment during that time. Apart from a large lawn and expansive planting beds, there were a couple of terraces close to the house, plus a small terrace next to the tennis court, a swimming pool and a formal front garden with an Italian style water feature.

In the way of many well loved gardens, the planting beds were a little tired and had got somewhat ‘set in their ways. There were also a number of decked areas and pavilions around the property which only served to distract the viewer’s attention from the beautiful mature trees including two ancient mulberry trees and a very old yew tree.

However, the family was ready for a change to fit in with their changing lifestyle and tastes.  In particular, they wanted a much larger terrace outside the family kitchen for use by the family and for entertaining friends.  They also wanted this terrace to be simpler and slightly more contemporary and more comfortable and usable throughout the year.  

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design was commissioned to develop a master plan for the whole one and half acre site to include new planting and design and some hard landscaping without totally changing the layout.
 
 
 

"The garden was to be re-vamped in line with changing lifestyles."
       
 

The terrace was to be doubled in size, the number of access points was reduced, the small island beds which used up valuable space were removed and around the perimeter a raised bed made of dressed limestone was built and filled with sun-loving plants including Lavender, Perovskia and Santolina. Two large L-shaped stone topped seats were created to fit snugly against the raised beds

Four beautiful umbrella London plane trees provide shade to the terrace

Two stairways now lead down to the main part of the garden. On one side a large French oak pergola frames the view to the water feature and stream and from the other stairs leading to the 150 year old yew tree, the view is framed by four umbrella topped plane trees. On one side of the terrace we placed a new slightly more contemporary dining table with specially made cushion tops and on the other side of the plane trees we placed a contemporary set of sofas and coffee tables.

 
 
 
"The new terrace needed to be more contemporary and much larger so that the family could have big lunches for family and friends. "
 
 
 
Masterplan of the rear garden   Perspective drawing showing new terrace
     
The planting plan for the garden    
     
 
Looking down towards the new tennis court terrace
 

Charlotte Rowe Garden Design also suggested that the other terrace by the tennis court would benefit from being enlarged and laid with the same stone (reclaimed york stone) as the terraces close to the house.  To create a really good sitting and viewing area, the terrace was given a French oak and stainless steel framework or arbour to give the area a sense of enclosure.  Comfortable outdoor sofas and coffee tables to match the ones on the upper terrace completed the look.
 

Mixed perennial and shrub planting was introduced
 

The planting throughout the garden was completely re-thought – traditionally the beds had been planted with a few shrubs with some occasional herbaceous plants and seasonal bedding plants. However, little thought had been given by the gardeners to coordinating the style, colour and look of the beds. 

In the new planting scheme, mass planting of perennials, shrubs and sub shrubs was introduced using coordinated colours and shapes and foliage, with Mediterranean planting on the main terrace and around the pool; marginal planting and wet tolerant plants all along the edge of the stream to replace the stones and pebbles which had previously been there and to soften the edges and make it more natural looking.
 
The waterside planting is rich and lush
 
New trees were planted to frame the views
 
Looking towards the new terrace and pergola
 
The same view in the late Spring
 

The lawn was re-formed and more clearly defined to give it a slightly more formal appearance; in particular under two mature willows, it was replaced by shade tolerant planting including hostas, grasses and ground cover to give a more coordinated mat of green under the branches of the trees than patchy grass.

A row of Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) was planted to lead the eye across the garden towards a gap in the wall created when the neighbouring plot of land was purchased by the family.

"The planting is much more coordinated and beds of shrubs and perennials replace bedding plants."

Lastly the family's collection of pots, sculptures and urns were used to create focal points around the space amongst the planting or against hedging both in the front and back gardens. Lighting was also provided to light some of the trees and sculptures.
 
 
 
 

Front garden

   
The front garden had always had a formal feel but it had a central circular bed of roses surrounded by a small line of Box hedging which looked fine when in flower but looked sad in the winter. There was a large rockery and a number of very mature overgrown shrubs. The client wanted a more elegant and formal look using more topiary.   
   

 

  

The solution was to create a series of circular lines of hedging around the water feature rippling out from the water feature in concentric circles like a drop in water to the edges of the garden and inter-planting these yew and box hedges with perennials, sub-shrubs, ground cover and bulbs to give some interest around the year using a deep blue and white palette.
 
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The fountain lit up at night
 

Computer image of how the front garden will look once established
 

"The new front garden brings more elegance

and formality to the first view of the house. "
 
The gravel drive was more clearly defined and re-created using a subtle grey gravel and gravel setts and in a dark corner we designed and created a small formal courtyard where we placed a formal urn.  Around the courtyard rich shade tolerant planting was introduced to complement the existing shrubs and specimen trees.
 
 

 
 
 

 
118 BLYTHE ROAD D
BROOK GREEN
 D
LONDON
D
W14 0HD
D
TEL: +44 (0)20 7602 0660 D D  

Photography: Clive Nichols, Marianne Majerus, Rob Brown, Marcus Harpur,

Light IQ, Robert Pascall and Charlotte Rowe
Website designed by Montpellier Creative


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