Garden Design - Camberwell, London SE5
This design does not seek to radically alter the basic layout of the garden, and will retain many of the features, such as the existing raised beds, pond and much of the foliage, while enhancing the space with additional beds and plants, new flooring, lighting and a water feature.
The existing fences running the length of the left boundary will be removed and replaced with new 6ft x 6ft shiplap fencing.
Flush beds will be created in front of the left and right raised beds, with further flush beds added to the back of the space to help soften the edges of the garden. The flush beds to the rear of the space would be banked, with planting on the slope, to help disguise the difference in levels at the end of the garden.
The existing paving and lawn will be removed and replaced with an attractive, rustic, granite sett paved surface in a 'coursed' pattern (i.e. the stone setts are laid in lines, rather than random laid). This flooring will continue down the left side passage to the end and the right side passage as far as the gate.
A wooden pergola will be constructed to stretch over the paving in the bottom half of the space, nestled behind the two existing trees to create a sheltered spot suitable for al fresco dining and entertaining. Climbers will be planted to train over the structure for added privacy.
The existing pond will be cleaned and painted a clotted cream colour. A bronze, Etruscan Great Fish water spout will be mounted on the wall behind the pond, to create a simple, yet elegantly effective, water feature, while causing the minimum of disruption to fish in the pond.
The planting palette will consist of principally hot colours, enlivened with the occasional splash of purple. The scheme will use a variety of cottage plants, chosen to encourage wildlife to visit the garden. To aid privacy and shade under the pergola, a selection of climbers, such as grapevines and climbing roses, will be planted and encouraged to grow up the timber supports.
An uncomplicated lighting scheme will complete the space, making it suitable for night-time entertaining and contemplation. A number of low voltage spots dotted throughout the beds will give a gentle wash to the space, while the pergola (and therefore the paving below) will be illuminated with the addition of several sets of rope lights. Finally, the pond will be lit with a submersible spot light, placed in order to make a nocturnal feature of the Etruscan Great Fish water spout.