Terraced Garden, Bristol

The Garden Brief

This large terraced suburban garden in Bristol needed some re-thinking and inspiration. When the clients moved in over a decade ago they had the sloping garden terraced to create large areas for the children to kick a ball and a paved entertaining terrace at the bottom. A ground floor extension has since had eaten into the lowest paving terrace and almost entirely swallowed it up.

The beautiful new family room with incredible floor to ceiling glazing looked out onto layers of walls. The first wall was barely a couple of metres from the glass, leaving very limited space to step outside to sit or entertain on the terrace.

The garden was nicknamed ‘the mountain’ by the children growing up due to the steep and challenging steps. The aim was to break into ‘the mountain’ and create inviting areas as you move through the garden –  to create an unfolding garden of welcoming destinations to pause and relax with different atmospheres, characters and light to be together, entertain, or have some calm moments alone. 

The family, now with older teenagers wanted a space which was more inviting and suited their enjoyment in entertaining family and friends. 

The Garden Design

The aim was to work work with the existing levels and manipulate them, rather than create an expensive overhaul. 

We pushed the lower wall back to create a large entertaining lower terrace which spills out from the family room. Soft planting and a lawn on this level softens all the hard surfaces of the paving and stone walls. We used the dappled shade of a beautiful existing cherry tree to locate the dining area in a cooler spot and added further height and shade with a new Hammamelis.

We chipped into the next level and re-addressed the steps creating easy, flowing steps and landings to break up the previous steep and precarious ones.

A beautiful and very meaningful sculptural piece by Carole Peace, ‘Reach’, stayed in place. ‘Reach’ is brought into each place to pause with a view line and therefore a dialogue, so she is a continual part of the family life. She is also perfectly placed to be viewed from inside the family room and kitchen, this important view line was protected and a complimentary backdrop of beech planted. Reach is framed against the lush green in the summer and the copper tones in the winter. 

The new fire-pit area sits in the perfect sunset spot and we sunk it into the football pitch level to create an intimate nook in a vast garden. The sunken lower level of this area not only provides intimacy, but also means it can be viewed from the house up an easy and inviting route of sweeping steps. 

The garden gently meanders on as it opens up onto the large lawn and another perch where we designed a curved stone bench into the existing stone wall. Here you can nestle into the warm wall and enjoy the view back through the surrounding textural perennial grasses and a new cherry tree to compliment the existing one on the other side of the garden. Beyond the garden climbs into a wilder and more informal area. The steps and paths have been resurfaced and built for easier flow. Sloping lawn has now been turned into a perennial meadow and under the tree canopy we have created a luscious area of shade planting with a bench to enjoy the cool after the climb and the view back across the surrounding hills of Bristol. 

There is no escaping having walls in a terraced garden and with the house at the bottom of the hill the views look out were onto the retaining walls. We therefore softened and broke into these walls with wide steps and abundant planting. Feature timber screens, soon to be created, will also break up the stone and add depth with layers and shadow to the walls. 

The photos were taken just a few months after planting. I look forward to returning to see this one establish and the final touches to the garden complete. 

Landscapers: Alder Landscapes

Plants provided by: Tortworth Plants Nursery