The owners of this small courtyard garden in central Tunbridge Wells had just finished an extension to their Victorian property which meant the garden was now a year-round focal point outside their new patio door. They asked us to swap their bland lawn for planting with year-round interest, a small seating area to catch the evening sun and a water feature to complement the style of their house.
Our design for this square space was based on a classical quadrant layout whereby one of the quadrants was turned into a paved seating area. In keeping with the raised brick planters, we created brick paths from reclaimed Victorian pavers to separate the quadrants. A fountain with a patina to match some of the existing and retained paving was chosen as the centrepiece. The existing borders were restocked and partially pruned and integrated into the new scheme. A flexible lighting scheme adds drama at night. In this garden, every plant counts because the planting is virtually under the microscope every time the family sits at the table. This is a garden that looks as charming in summer as in winter.
