NEAR THE SUSSEX COAST, A LOW-MAINTENANCE GARDEN DESIGNED FOR AN ACTIVE FAMILY’S WEEKEND RETREAT

With the house being entirely remodelled, the family wanted a set of flexible outdoor spaces for playing and entertaining. The swimming pool was set on a slightly raised podium to provide clear delineation in this uniformly level garden site. A row of crown-lifted Phillyrea angustifolia trees behind it provide further definition. With a new greenhouse, a kitchen garden was created in a previously unloved spot behind the house.

DOWN A QUIET LANE ON THE SURREY-SUSSEX BORDER, A SPECTACULAR NEW COUNTRY GARDEN HAS TAKEN SHAPE

Formed by its site in a hilltop woodland clearing, the brief was to create the sense of being enveloped by Nature, at the same time as providing usable spaces for an extended family to gather and entertain away from the buzz of civilisation.

Close to the house, paving for cooking, dining and a sunken seating area with a fireplace for long lazy evenings spent outdoors. Alongside the swimming pool, a dramatic low-maintenance drought-tolerant planting bed replaces an unsatisfactory sun-drenched patch of lawn. Wandering further from the house, the style relaxes, becoming more naturalistic, heightened by the creation of a pond in a magical wildflower meadow setting.

A 21st CENTURY ARTS & CRAFTS GARDEN MAGNIFICENTLY SITED ON THE EDGE OF HASLEMERE

From its steep hillside position, the house flows out to tiers of terraces with steps giving comfortable access to the garden, paddocks and landscape beyond. Blending new with traditional arts & crafts materials in confident style. The hard landscaping is balanced by a soft, informal plant palette chosen for its tolerance of dry conditions.

A SECRET PARADISE GARDEN IN WINDSOR

The brief was to create a refuge for a travel-weary executive and their family, an inner sanctum in a hitherto neglected spot at the end of a mature walled garden. The family home is filled with colourful artefacts from their travels and so it was concluded that a loose interpretation of a Persian paradise garden would fit the bill - albeit one with mod cons including a bespoke oak cabinet with fridge and everything required for a party…

A JOYOUS FAMILY GARDEN IN HAMPSHIRE: EXPANSIVE, GENEROUS, INFORMAL, FREE-FLOWING

Master plan for a sweeping hillside garden with a magnificent herring-bone terrace for family gatherings.

A SPARKLING WOODLAND GARDEN FOR RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2018

One of the four feature gardens commissioned by the RHS from me in partnership with Kevin Bownes, with planting by an army of volunteers from London College of Garden Design.

A REJUVENATED GARDEN IN THE SURREY HILLS

Sensitive editing of a well-established garden to create a set of enticing destinations for its new owners and their family.

A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN IN HIGHGATE, NORTH LONDON

Rejuvenation of a private 2/3rd acre garden adjoining a Grade 2 listed modernist terrace of five houses.