A blank canvas in every sense of the word, this 1 acre site in Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, had enormous potential. The clients, who had bought the new build country house in Autumn 2020 contacted Bel knowing that they wanted to transform the plot into a garden they could enjoy with friends and family, and grow with in their 'forever home'. The rural site looked over rolling countryside and the clients were keen to preserve the views, whilst also incorporating a 'wilder' space to the rear of the 'paddock area', a Kitchen Garden and a more formal garden space close to the house.
A Garden Studio would be required as a home office and entertaining space and would be sited close to the house, screening the garden from the neighbouring buildings. The builders had installed a significant patio area already, and it seemed wasteful to remove this so an extension would be required to allow for access to the Garden studio and Storage building. The clients were also keen to incorporate an Outdoor Kitchen / BBQ area close to the house.
A Garden Studio would be required as a home office and entertaining space and would be sited close to the house, screening the garden from the neighbouring buildings. The builders had installed a significant patio area already, and it seemed wasteful to remove this so an extension would be required to allow for access to the Garden studio and Storage building. The clients were also keen to incorporate an Outdoor Kitchen / BBQ area close to the house.
As the site slopes away from the house by 150cm, the site would need terracing to allow for the 'Formal Garden' Garden Studio and Outdoor Kitchen. Bel began designing the garden, incorporating a brick faced retaining wall with a grassed slope at the centre to allow for access to the lower areas and to allow the clients to drive the 'Ride on' lawn mower around the plot. To link the existing paving with the Garden Studio etc, Bel created a curved paved pathway and patio extension, which gave elegant shape to the area and softened the geometric lines of the property. A large planting border opposite, mirrors the curve and allows a mass of planting to provide year-round colour and interest, backed by a Hornbeam hedge to offer the formality the clients required. The planting design used a selection of traditional cottage style perennials and shrubs, in a limited colour palette to offer a calming elegant look to the Formal space.
In the Kitchen Garden, the clients required the usual greenhouse, raised beds, compost bins and Bel also chose to incorporate a couple of seating areas, to give the clients the opportunity to relax and entertain away from the house. A bespoke Woodpecker greenhouse was designed to benefit from the sunniest spot and the utility features such as compost bins and the tool store would be hidden behind. Numerous timber raised beds where designed around a central quadrant feature, reminiscent of traditional Victorian Kitchen Gardens. The quadrant would be planted with pretty 'wild style' planting to echo the meadow area beyond, but offer more colour and interest, wrapped around a dining area at its centre. An additional secluded seating area was incorporated, nestled in a 'meadow-style' planting area, backed with a bespoke linear pergola, offering screening from the neighbours unattractive fence. Picket fencing would surround the Kitchen Garden to keep the clients dogs away from the prized produce and a decorative Arch would lead through to the wilder area beyond.
In the Kitchen Garden, the clients required the usual greenhouse, raised beds, compost bins and Bel also chose to incorporate a couple of seating areas, to give the clients the opportunity to relax and entertain away from the house. A bespoke Woodpecker greenhouse was designed to benefit from the sunniest spot and the utility features such as compost bins and the tool store would be hidden behind. Numerous timber raised beds where designed around a central quadrant feature, reminiscent of traditional Victorian Kitchen Gardens. The quadrant would be planted with pretty 'wild style' planting to echo the meadow area beyond, but offer more colour and interest, wrapped around a dining area at its centre. An additional secluded seating area was incorporated, nestled in a 'meadow-style' planting area, backed with a bespoke linear pergola, offering screening from the neighbours unattractive fence. Picket fencing would surround the Kitchen Garden to keep the clients dogs away from the prized produce and a decorative Arch would lead through to the wilder area beyond.
Finally the lower third of the garden, would be the 'wilder' space, with wild flower meadow areas, amongst the grassy paddock, with native trees planted in groups to offer height, interest and tie the area to the landscape beyond. Fruit trees would be added to create a small Orchard area too. To offer a place to sit and enjoy the more natural area of the garden, Bel incorporated a Pavilion with seating beneath, offering shade from the mid day sun and a relaxing spot away from the house.
Designed in March 2021 - see the 3D visuals above, the Landscaping was carried out the following Spring Jan-May 2022 and the planting installed over a full week at the end of April. 1000 plants and 33 trees in total, all mulched to help with weed suppression and retaining moisture.
The Greenhouse is on order and due to be installed Spring 2023, and the Garden Arch and Pavilion will be installed at a later date.
Just a couple of months on the garden is flourishing and the clients are loving their new garden. They are showing great care and attention to caring for the planting to ensure it survives and thrives.
Designed in March 2021 - see the 3D visuals above, the Landscaping was carried out the following Spring Jan-May 2022 and the planting installed over a full week at the end of April. 1000 plants and 33 trees in total, all mulched to help with weed suppression and retaining moisture.
The Greenhouse is on order and due to be installed Spring 2023, and the Garden Arch and Pavilion will be installed at a later date.
Just a couple of months on the garden is flourishing and the clients are loving their new garden. They are showing great care and attention to caring for the planting to ensure it survives and thrives.
Completed in Spring 2022, this garden is filling out well and is much loved by the clients....
"Thank you so much for everything Bel. The garden is more than we ever hoped for. We really look forward to seeing it grow and develop"
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
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We are absolutely delighted with our beautiful new garden designed and installed by Bel! We had an unusually shaped garden which we didn't have the knowledge to handle, but at the same time had quite specific ideas of what we liked and disliked. Bel listened to our ideas and the challenge didn't phase her at all! The preparation of the the soil by her team, and the planting of the garden by Bel herself over three days couldn't have gone smoother. We would highly recommend Bel in terms of her expertise, conscientiousness and friendly, easy going personality and we can't stop looking at our amazing new garden!
Mrs Prist, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
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"Bel is brilliant. Easy to work with. Lots of ideas and plans but great at listening and quickly tapping into what you like, want and need. She has bags of style with a healthy dose of practicality and is 100% reliable. Totally recommend."
Mrs Munden - Thrussington, Leicestershire
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"Bel delivered professional advice in a friendly way after she had established what her clients wished to achieve. All in all - it has been a pleasure to work with her"
Mrs Harrison - Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire
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"If you are looking for advice on your garden or a new designs then look no further than Bel Grierson. We have used her on several aspects of our garden to lower the maintenance and update the planting with spectacular results. Bel is easy to work with and is totally in tune with all our requirements."
Mr Stapleton - Rothley, Leicestershire
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"Bel has delivered a delightful garden with a design that has transformed a shallow plot surrounded by fences, into a garden full of interest. Bel listened carefully to our concerns and gave her total attention to each step of the way."
Mr & Mrs Bayley - Loughborough, Leicestershire
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"Our 20 year old garden was looking tired and boring. No colour and a mishmash of plants that were past their sell-by date. We had no idea what to do to rescue the situation as we knew very little about what plants would do well. Then we found Bel. Our garden is transformed; beautiful colour that just keeps coming all through the year, easy maintenance and a joy to sit and look at with an appropriate glass in one hand. Bel interpreted our thoughts perfectly and has produced an extraordinary result. She is patient with non-gardeners, knowledgeable and highly professional. Not afraid to get her hands dirty and endlessly helpful. I simply cannot recommend her too highly."
Mr & Mrs Benussi - Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
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"Bel redesigned and planted our garden this summer. It has transformed it from dark and dingy to a fresh open space. Bel is a pleasure to work with, friendly and helpful, full of ideas and always ready to listen to what you want and find the best way of delivering it. Recommended!"
Mr Goodman - Loughborough, Leicestershire
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"Bel provided good advice and warm, friendly and professional support at all stages of our garden transformation. Her knowledge about plants and her design ideas gave us confidence from the outset. We are delighted with the result, and now look forward to enjoying our new garden in the months and years to come."
Mr Corner - Rearsby, Leicestershire
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"Bel has recently redesigned a large area in my garden which was previously a 'wilderness'. I was very pleased with the design that she came up with - it was clear that she had paid attention to what I had said I wanted and understood my style. Great communication throughout the process and now that the planting is finished I am looking forward to next spring and watching it develop."
Mrs Phillips - Ratby, Leicestershire
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Thank you very much Bel for your design to renovate our back garden. It’s been great to work with you, we really appreciated spending time with you to hear your ideas and develop those with you for a new vision for our garden. We love the pond and wild at the back of the garden and the new plants you’ve sourced have all settled in very well and we are excited to see how they will grow!
Mr & Mrs Adshead, Loughborough
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Absolutely delighted with our new garden. Bel’s design carefully incorporated all of our wish list and much much more.
Receiving the designs far exceeding our expectations and her subsequent coordination with her recommended landscapers made the project go without a hitch allowing us to work full time throughout, returning home to a little more transformation each day!
Her planting scheme was the cherry on the top. It's beautiful and we couldn't be happier with it. Eight weeks post planting the garden is thriving and we're really enjoying pottering around tending to it as per Bel's comprehensive maintenance instructions.
We couldn't be more delighted - thank you.
Receiving the designs far exceeding our expectations and her subsequent coordination with her recommended landscapers made the project go without a hitch allowing us to work full time throughout, returning home to a little more transformation each day!
Her planting scheme was the cherry on the top. It's beautiful and we couldn't be happier with it. Eight weeks post planting the garden is thriving and we're really enjoying pottering around tending to it as per Bel's comprehensive maintenance instructions.
We couldn't be more delighted - thank you.
Mrs Fraser - West Leake
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Bel Grierson | Garden Designer & Plantswoman
Postal Address: 11 Garendon Road, Shepshed, LEICS, LE12 9NU Phone Number: 07506 750250 Email address: info@belgrierson.co.uk |
Company Details:
Bel Grierson Garden Design Limited Registered Address: C/O Chesterton House Accounting Services LLP, 2-3 Rectory Place, Loughborough, LE11 1UW Company Number: 13017102 (England & Wales) VAT Number: 399744816 |
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