Large Country Garden Design with Lakeside Pavilion
BRIEF
The grounds of this substantial country property extend across several acres. Other well-known designers had contributed to earlier phases of the garden, and we were delighted to be invited to develop proposals for the next stage of its evolution.
The brief included remodelling the entrance, driveway and parking to create a stronger sense of arrival; establishing a woodland walk and tree avenue; and turning a lake in one corner of the property into a more inviting destination within the landscape.
We also considered how future play areas for grandchildren could be incorporated as part of the wider masterplan.
DESIGN SOLUTION
We reconfigured the vehicle access, creating a new drive through a tree-lined avenue, ornamental grasses and areas of rose meadow. A planted roundabout and new limestone steps leading to the main terrace strengthened the arrival sequence.
New paths and woodland planting — including Hydrangeas, Cornus, witch hazels, ferns and other shade-tolerant plants — lead through the tree avenue towards the lake.
Here, we designed a contemporary lakeside pavilion reached by a cantilevered boardwalk. Its cantilevered roof preserves uninterrupted views across the water, lakeside planting and countryside beyond.
At the opposite end of the boardwalk, a bespoke natural-stone firepit creates an intimate place for small gatherings, with the fire reflected across the lake after dark. A spiral path continues towards the upper pool and woodland walk.
The brief subsequently evolved to include a large upper pool, streams and waterfalls feeding into the lake, together with a natural filtration system. New aquatic planting, a sinuous lakeside path and additional naturalistic planting complete this part of the landscape.
The project demonstrates how careful masterplanning can give a large country garden a stronger sense of journey, connecting arrival, woodland, architecture and water across an extensive site.
