Designed in 2023 and completed in 2024, the owners of this beautiful stone long cottage wanted a garden to do it justice.  It had previously been well cared for but, lost its structure over the years.  We approached the design with a light touch to make the most of its established features - an aged orchard, stone well, old Mulberry tree and views to the meadow beyond.

The Brief

To create more useable space within the area immediately around the house, remaining sympathetic to the cottage style of the property and its features.
The Clients knew the look they wanted, but were struggling to see how to achieve it. 

The Approach

There were several practical elements to cover off - the relocation of the oil tank from outside the back door and the removal of a couple of trees that were positioned too close to the property (for which the Client had already got permission for).  We also needed to ensure that any increase in run off from paving around the house did not affect the property itself. 

Once these were addressed, we were able to see how the space around the kitchen/utility door on the far side of the house could be brought back into use with a new dining patio, incorporating the stone well as a feature.  The wooden structure over the well was removed and, while it was originally planned to be taken to ground level with a toughened glass and filigree ironwork cover, the Clients decided to retain it, with a cover, at coffee table height.

To anchor this area within the space, Green Man Dry Stone Walling was commissioned to build a feature wall to tie in to the existing boundary wall along the back of the patio.

This new area links to the existing patio at the other end of the house with a widened path, more in proportion with the stature of the property, in yellow Limestone pavers, detailed with Limestone setts - a material sympathetic to the Northamptonshire sandstone aesthetic.  Improved steps give access to and from the driveway and a new herb planting area was created to the end of the house.

Paving removed from around the house was reused for casual, inset paths between the orchard and the 'runway' - a walkway flanked by large planting beds running from the lawn to the end of the garden.  The originally straight path was gently curved to create interest and the original, heavy wooden pergola was replaced with intermittent and visually lighter, steel 'staples'.

The orchard was left broadly untouched aside from the addition of some new beds for growing vegetable along the boundary and several large compost bays in preparation for the Client to plant up their new garden!

Landscaping by Stamford Landscapes

Sustainability Considerations

• Reuse of materials from site, on site as paving or aggregate
• Use of Limestone paving (relatively low embodied carbon footprint compared to other options)
• Retention of as many established trees and shrubs on site as possible
• Retention of run off on site via soakaway (large roof surface and age of property / lack of foundations precluded use of rain garden type beds near the house)
• Stored water collation from garage roof