Small Country Family Garden, Malvern

The Garden Brief

The cottage had recently undergone a renovation which completely opened up the house to the garden through large sliding glazed doors. The garden however was uninviting, overgrown with large weeds, undulating and sloping from one side to the other. Even the step out was precarious onto some loose bricks to reach the garden level below. There was, however, lots of potential with surrounding native hedge boundaries and beautiful views up to the Malvern hills and down across the expansive plateau from the elevated hillside garden location. 

The brief was to situate the garden into its its setting with the cottage and wider rural landscape, whilst creating a family friendly garden. 

Important considerations were given to create a garden which flowed out invitingly from the cottage. A space which you could explore and find different areas along the long narrow plot, whilst working as one homogenous space. It needed to work for both adults and kids. The clients wanted a space for the kids to play within, without turning the garden into an obvious playground. There was also the all important kids trampoline to hide. 

Finally I needed to situate a shepherds hut into the garden as part of the brief, this would be used as an occasional extra bedroom / study. 

The Garden Design

The garden is framed through the large glazed back doors which span almost the entire width of the cottage. This view is enjoyed throughout the year from the cottage. 

Rather than revealing the whole garden in one view, elements are hidden, trees screen and paths sweep and turn to create intrigue, glimpses and a desire to explore the space. Multiple path choices offer movement and changing view lines.

The garden unfolds and reveals more as you move through it. Intimate nooks and immersive pockets of privacy are found. The pockets provide calm places to sit in the garden whilst feeling utterly immersed in nature and not in a framed view from the house.

Stepping out from the house I brought a warm Kebony deck up to the cottage floor level for an easy step out onto an inviting elevated terrace. The deck is woven into the garden with large planting pockets which come all the way up to the large sliding doors. The planting binds the house and garden together and roots them into their landscape.

The rest of the garden is levelled across the space, creating a far easier and enjoyable space to explore. One route down from the deck sweeps across the lawn reaching stepping stones on the other side within planting. Whilst the other path steps down onto large slate stepping stones, perfect for a couple of chairs in the sunshine. Leading on, the paving breaks into a grey gravel path with twists and turns around the shepherd’s hut which is surrounded with planting nestling it into the garden. Its elevation provides incredible views up to the hills and back across the fields through the windows. The location in the garden was chosen specifically to line up with the view. 

Beyond the shepherds hut planting becomes looser and larger before giving way to a perennial meadow with sweeping curved paths. A seating area immersed in the meadow is hidden behind the shepherds hut, with just a glimpse visible from the cottage. Sitting here the impressive hills emerge over the garden. Along the looping meadow paths you can find a hidden sunken trampoline and a timber arch over a mown path, which provides the perfect place for the kids swings. A basketball hoop is also completely hidden from the cottage view next to the patio behind the shepherds hut. 

The material pallet was key to sensitively echoing the natural materials of the vernacular landscape. Natural timber, grey gravel echoes from the rocks in the hills above and slate paving to match the slate roof of the cottage. 

The garden is tactile and textural, felt through the changing materials and sumptuous planting. Moments open  up and other areas contract to create intrigue and places to pause along a meandering, splitting and converging route. This brings different pace to the garden and the changing paths cause you to change your vista line and take in a different view of both the garden and the spectacular landscape beyond. The garden feels truly rooted in its landscape.

An inviting space full of play, rest and revelation. 

Landscapers: Sam Orgee Pools & Landscaping

Plants provided by: Tortworth Plants Nursery

Shepherd’s hut: Blackdown Huts