Bel was contacted by the owners of a pretty Northamptonshire cottage back in November 2019 when they were looking for a garden designer to help them with there garden development project. They had recently bought a one acre paddock to the rear of their cottage and had planning permission to renovate and extended their cottage with an Oak framed extension, Oak clad garden stores and a Shepherds Hut. The property redevelopment would allow far reaching views over the beautiful rolling hills of Northamptonshire, and the garden was to play a key part in the project, linking the plot with the land beyond, and nestling the renovated cottage into the newly acquired land.
The clients had already purchased the Blackdown Shepherds Hut and Bel advised on the location of the structure within the paddock, to make the most of the views to and from the hut. Along a neighbouring boundary the village primary school was an eyesore and the noise quite significant throughout the day so the clients were keen to create privacy and reduce the noise impact using native trees and shrubs which would attract wildlife and tie the garden in with the views of the farmland beyond.
The property renovations created substantial amounts of earth, which was used to create the bund, designed by Bel to wrap around the Shepherds hut to nestle it into the garden. Bel also suggested and designed a shelter belt strip along the boundary with the school, to be planted with native and near-native trees and shrubs, specifically selected for their shape, form and wildlife appeal. As the belt matures, there will be a natural living screen offering not only colour and interest, but privacy and noise reduction. With significant planting to be installed, Bel suggested installing an irrigation system, which would assist with establishment and maintenance of the planted areas.
With the Paddock covering a significant area and the clients wishes to keep planting as natural as possible, Bel designed sweeping areas of Wild Flower Meadow, which wraps around the existing mature Apple tree. The meadow was created using wild flower meadow turf, which established very quickly from installation in October & was full of flower the following spring.
With the Paddock covering a significant area and the clients wishes to keep planting as natural as possible, Bel designed sweeping areas of Wild Flower Meadow, which wraps around the existing mature Apple tree. The meadow was created using wild flower meadow turf, which established very quickly from installation in October & was full of flower the following spring.
Part of a large project to transform the grounds around the renovated property, this garden will evolve over the next few years as the planting is completed elsewhere.
Find out more about the Garden Design process....
Find out more about the Garden Design process....
Do you want to know how much it costs to transform a garden like this?
See Bel's articles in the Advice Hub which adviseson budgeting for your Garden Design or Planting Design project
See Bel's articles in the Advice Hub which adviseson budgeting for your Garden Design or Planting Design project