Creating a traditional Garden

with contemporary twists

This garden was designed and built for a keen gardener who wished for a garden they could really get involved in, that had seasonal interest along with numerous planting areas, raised beds and seating areas. It was a large level space mainly laid to lawn with established sandstone walls and hedging around it’s perimeter. Access is via a small shared parking area that also had modern built shared garages. Views from their apartment above were also important.

Original garden before design and build

Largely level garden with lawn sloping down towards the far end. Car park and shared garages along left side with hedges and high sandstone walls completing the boundaries.

Evolving what is already a great garden space…

On initial inspection the soil was good, difficulty in getting plants to thrive was suprising.

Access to the garden is from the shared car park and there was a desire to screen the garden for increased privacy, a gate was however not wished for and an alternative solution required.

Along with a large terrace for outdoor entertaining, a summerhouse and greenhouse were asked for, with a selection of raised beds to allow the opportunity to grow on herbs, vegetables and flowers.

Works begins, access good but narrow.

Unexpectedly most deliveries cannot reach road end, help was required.

A ‘staggered path access’ was created

A limestone entrance path zig zags through maturely planted Yew hedging. The path is wide enough to ease access with items and offset hedging overlaps just enough to screen the large limestone terrace from the shared car park.

A contorted hazel in a large pot further screens garden from view ( whilst being moveable if required)

 Garden tucked away behind a mature yew hedge

Only in its second year the garden has really established

The limestone paved terrace sits secluded behind mature yew hedging whilst remaining easily accessible from the car park without the need of a gate. Views of newly built raised beds emerge clad in stone along with the existing garages.

Design 3D Sketch


A 3d design sketch helps convey the proposed layout and various features of the new garden space. It is orientated to help convey perspective when viewed from property.

The staggered access from car park leads to the main patio terrace and summerhouse. Two large bespoke central beds slope and curve to create immediate visual impact and structure within what was a long and level garden. Along the left side beside the garage is a series of raised beds in what had been the hardest area to grow plants. Along the rightside is a veg bed and greenhouse with straight access across to the raised beds. Both sides allow access to the original reshaped lawn, woodland area and proposed tree deck at far end ( leaf mould and compost tucked away)

adding height and interest

Curved raised beds full of a first seasons produce with a complimenting curving bespoke concrete bed full of summer perennials and an Acer tree chosen to compliment and complete the surrounding woodland ( without creating too much shade)

Woodland deck creates a great destination

At the far end of the garden surrounded by mature trees a raised woodland deck was constructed to wrap around the dominating Chestnut tree and allow relaxed seating a views back up the garden. A range of woodland planting was added to further this green relaxing space, with a very large compost and leaf mould facility tucked away ready for Autumn.

View from deck

Woodland deck allows a great view back up the garden as you plan your next tasks. It also allows a glimpse of an arbour seat tucked away even further from view, just incase your next task is feet up a reading book

  • you wish to make changes, what are they? Dont hold back!

  • Ideas come first, how these are built can take many routes and scales to suite all projects.

  • Once the garden space has been thought through and created, it is then the beginning. How the new spaces evolves will always have your influence.

Crafted by hand on site

Along with working and re- utilising what already exists on site we create new features and structures on site by hand. Our levels of waste are low enough by these processes that we have no longer required the use of skips for the last 12 years.

Curves and angles add interest

Two large central beds divide up the centre of the garden offering height, shape and further planting options, as well as a means to utilise the turfs and soil excavated from the construction of the paved areas. The second sloping bed has been turfed as a contemporary extension of the lawn ( especially when viewed from the property), it is also fast becoming great topsoil as the old lawn turfs break down underneath, ready for future planting plans….

View from the property was an important aspect

Garden is thriving in its first year

Working with the existing garden is always the best way to begin.

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'Granton by sea', Edinburgh

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Arthurs Seat hillside garden, Edinburgh.