Family Garden Design, Long Crendon
BRIEF
We designed this garden in Long Crendon to make considerably better use of a relatively modest space while retaining an old apple tree that gave the garden character and valuable shade.
The existing patio needed replacement and the owners wanted a fresh layout that would maximise what the garden could offer rather than simply replacing individual elements.
The finished garden needed to accommodate the whole family and offer appealing places to sit at different times of day.
DESIGN SOLUTION
The existing apple tree became an important part of the new layout rather than an obstacle to design around. Children’s play equipment was attached to the tree, while its canopy provides natural shade over the dining area.
A new lounge area with space for a BBQ was positioned to enjoy the sun.
A further terrace contains more informal seating positioned to catch the morning light, giving the owners different reasons to use different parts of the garden as the day progresses.
Decking and natural stone introduce a richer mix of materials and give the relatively compact garden a more considered, high-quality character.
Two tall cherry trees were added to relate to the existing apple tree while helping obscure neighbouring houses on either side.
A water feature sits against the boundary wall close to the dining area, providing gentle sound and movement.
The most important spatial move was rotating the overall design onto a diagonal axis. This makes the garden feel larger by extending the principal views across its longest dimensions and leads the eye towards a statue positioned as a focal point in one corner. The owners particularly enjoyed the literal and figurative ‘change of perspective’ created by the new layout.
