Large Country Garden New Forest

This recently renovated Listed Building sits in extensive grounds just over 2 acres. Originally laid to lawn with a single tennis court set within a pastoral landscape with a single patio tucked in close to the house. The design solution added a large reflecting pool enclosed by new hedging to create shelter from the prevailing winds. Two terraces, for relaxed seating and dining overlook this pool and out to the wider landscape. A newly created bog garden sits in a naturally occurring dip in the landscape where water always collected, now enhanced by directing storm water into this area. This large ‘swale’ slows the passage of water with a positive impact on local flooding and holding moisture well into the hotter months. A summerhouse with views looking out over a small native wildflower meadow and small orchard creates a focal point at the end of the boardwalk crossing the bog garden.
A simple yet beautiful outdoor kitchen is positioned to catch the last of the evening sun and a space for socialising next to the tennis court. The tennis court is now screened with a bespoke estate type support framework covered with roses and other climbers, picking up the details of the boundary fencing elsewhere. The tennis court arch gateway references the timber work of the veranda. Non-native meadows and a matrix of ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials blend out into the landscape providing further interest across the year and hugely increasing biodiversity.
With thanks to Stephen Studd for the autumn photographs.

Materials have been carefully chosen to compliment those previously used and reflecting the history of the house. A bespoke brick pattern is repeated across the site adding interest and a quietly cohesive element across the garden. Internal hedges have been added to create garden rooms with different atmospheres and function. A boardwalk leads out from the main terraces through a bog garden and out to the summerhouse, orchard and meadow. A woodland walk meanders alongside the tennis court where a metal pergola offers support for roses and other climbers and softens the view of the tennis court itself. An evening terrace is enclosed in richly planted mixed borders of roses, shrubs and herbaceous perennials for social afternoons of tennis and to catch the last of the evening sun. A meandering grass path leads through matrix planting out to a further meadow and the fields beyond. The dining terrace looks out over a cool reflective pond bringing the sky down, backed by views out to the wider landscape. A formal lawn from the veranda. A formal hedge divides the glasshouse and raised bed cutting garden.