A Cottage Garden in Walthamstow

Brief

in this Garden Design, Walthamstow a plant lover the client requires a garden that provides plenty of provision for flowering plants and fruit trees and canes. An existing wildlife pond needs to be improved. The client has expressed a preference for the cottage garden style.

Solution

This fairly narrow garden is to be divided into three distinct areas. A terrace of random lay Indian sandstone paving will be installed adjacent to the house, softened by a surrounding gravel bed interspersed with creeping ground Sempervivums. A step down from this terrace leads to a gravel patio, inlaid with occasional sunken railway sleepers. To the left, adjoining the side of the garage, will be a bespoke sunken wildlife pond. The feature will comprise a butyl lined pond edged with untreated African Azobe railway sleepers. Several underwater ledges and shallow areas will allow the inclusion of wildlife friendly marginal and aquatic planting. A railway sleeper ‘wall’ running along the side of the pond against the garage wall will feature two copper pipe spouts which will pour water into the pond below, helping to aerate the pond to encourage wildlife to flourish.

A chunky softwood pergola will enclose this area and will include slatted timber panels and stainless steel tension wire trellis to provide support to climbing roses and mask the garage and unsightly boundary fence. The pergola will also support a simple bench-style swing seat. The rear of the garage is masked by bespoke timber trellis and climbing plants. This area will also accommodate a rotary clothes dryer, compost bin and water butt. The remainder of the garden contains two long L-shaped beds constructed from sturdy African Azobe railway sleepers around a central lawn area. The centre of the lawn will feature a fruit tree, while wicker obelisks in each raised bed will add vertical interest. A narrow bed planted with climbers runs along one boundary, while a bed along the opposite boundary will feature espalier fruit trees complemented by a mix of cottage garden favourites. This bed is edged with step-over pear trees. The existing shed will be relocated so that is cannot be seen from the house. The existing site of the shed will become a wide bed planted with fruit canes.