Whipsnade
18th Century Cottage
A new garden project as part of a Grade II listed thatched cottage renovation. The brief was to produce a new layout over a large site (two-thirds of an acre), and to include: entertainment area, access paths, country lawn, wildflower meadow area, specialist plants and a vegetable plot. This was a long-term project that could have been extremely costly but the budget had to be restricted.
To be wildlife friendly was a priority and areas were introduced including wild flowers and a wildlife pond to attract birds, insects, amphibians and hopefully a hedgehog or two. The style needed to be contemporary but with a nod to its English country cottage heritage and a diverse range of plants with drifts of colour.
The site had to be cleared, fully landscaped and a new native hedge-line planted. Fortunately many of the large established trees were retained, which helped to give shade and instant height to parts of the garden. Colour comes from the wildflower strips bordering the site and the more structured beds nearer to the house and outdoor seating areas.
You can use the landscape to give a focal point. The path and lavender draws the eye towards the oak tree.
What the blackbird sees
Acer shiraz
Clematis filigree
Attracting pollinators to your garden.
Landscaping does not need to be expensive. This garden was built on a tight budget.
Attract more pollinators to your garden. Butterflies mean caterpillars, so you may get a bit of collateral damage but it's worth it for the life and beauty you will bring to the garden.
Attract more insects and you will attract more birds. Let's get back to nature!
Wrought iron hanging wall baskets.
Alternative seating area, great for summer evenings to watch the sun go down.
The bronze figurine peaks out of the pink border (miniature echinacea, pink hydrangea and chocolate cosmos).
A bonsai wisteria displayed in front of a contemporary metal screen that divides the bed and blocks a view to an air sourced heat pump.
Looking through willow fedge at topriary.
A gravel path providing access from the driveway to the kitchen, edged with dwarf lavender. The herbaceous perrenials include: scabious, coreopsis, salvia, and erigeron karbinskianus plants.
Hydrangea limelight
A mixed herbaceous border (scabious, coreopsis)
Pergola and outdoor eating area.
Before - a variety of livestock had been kept on site. Many self-seeded saplings had to be removed, all authorised by the tree conservation officer.
Before - Back view of house at initial consultation stage. The site is Grade II listed in a conservation area and an area of outstanding natural beauty.
There were a number of outbuildings that the client did not want to retain.
Before - the site was a mess.
A hedge of willow borders the access path offering a natural partial screen. I particularly like the platted stems that are a good talking point.
A budget water feature. The wash tub and metal planter, sourced from a secondhand yard, with left over pamments and topped with a pot purchased in an end-of-line sale. Total cost of water feature was about £150, most of which was the solar pump.
A wildlife pond encourages birds, insects and amphibians. Carnivorous sarracenia is established on the bank.
Willow fedge will make a natural screen
Salvia hot pink viewed along the lavender hedge.
Platted trunk willow hedge.
Lemon and blue border through platted trunk willow.
Lemon and blue border.
Hummingbird Hawk Moths love buddleia.
Red Admiral Butterfly.