Our clients purchased their rural Sevenoaks property with remnants of a natural pond, which was located in an area so overgrown that it was neither accessible nor visible.
Part of the masterplan for the property was to make the pond an accessible part of the garden that would be a visible feature from the house and the entertainment garden we designed for them (see garden case study)
In order to achieve this, all vegetation surrounding the pond was cleared, with the exception of a group of mature trees. The outline of the pond was then redesigned to weave in and out of the trees. The pond was lined, and its banks formalised so the water level could be raised. This, together with a gentle regrading of the land leading from the house to the pond to create a shallower approach created a visual and visceral link to the pond. Pockets of level lawn bordering the pond make the water safe to approach, and a jetty was installed to create a seating area on the water. This offers an immersive experience surrounded by grasses and wildlife planting planted in the shallow gravel pockets along the margins of the pond.
Atop the steepest part of the bank, overlooking the whole of the pond and the adjacent fields and forest, an informal seating area with a fire pit is a perfect spot to dream away lazy afternoons and evenings surrounded by nature.
