Wheathampstead
1930s Cottage with Large Garden
This was a house renovation and garden project for a young, active family. Garden requirements included: parking for multiple cars, children’s play area, entertainment areas and a vegetable garden with greenhouse, shed and utility area. The overall style of the garden was an English country garden theme including many old English herbaceous perennials.
Looking back at the house from the tree seat.
Flower bed by the driveway. Flowerbeds and a herb garden helped to lessen the visual intrusion of the large driveway.
Front garden viewed from the front door.
Front gate: A picket gate entry through a new wooden arch.
Driveway entrance flanked with labunum and choisya.
Front path view front door.
The garden house.
Papaver turkenlois.
The orange poppies (papaver turkenlois) are stunning against the weeping purple beech (fagus sylvatica purpurea).
Flowerbed in the back garden.
Back garden from the patio.
Archway through to utility area. An archway and gate provide access to the children's play area, the vegetable garden, greenhouse and shed. This utility area is shielded largely from view from the main garden area and from the house.
Before pic of front garden.
Before pic of back garden.
Driveway under construction: Giving shape to the driveway close to the house reduced the impact of a very large driveway.
Front garden under construction. Meaningful shapes cut through with gravel footpaths worked well in the space, the gravel working best in this English country garden.
Front path under construction: Front paths should go straight to the front door wherever possible.
The garden house under construction: The garden was a neglected apple orchard. The trees were removed to make way for the new garden but one was used to turn a simple table into a feature in the garden house.
Back garden under construction: The curves added interest to the garden. The curve around the tree made way for a tree seat and the main path lead to the garden house, and a separate area at the rear for children's play area, vegetable garden, greenhouse and shed, all hidden from view in a separate 'room'.
The garden has something for everybody... and the dogs too.