An award-winning naturalistic wildlife garden, which celebrates bio-diversity and sustainability. A touch of the countryside in the heart of London, as featured in Pro Landscaper Magazine April 24.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

I really love the feel of this design - these sort of informal, cottagey spaces are all about the 'edges', so that you can really experience the planting with all your senses. It really succeeds. 

The new brick wall has totally transformed this space and unifies the entire garden with the choice of hard landscape materials. It is a great designer that takes into consideration urban noise and pollution when designing such a small space. An excellent transformation of small space with a light, bright feel.  

Quite simply, a lovely scheme! 

Location

Situated in West Hampstead, London, a lovely Victorian terraced house which backs onto a busy train line, featured a south-facing paved space.

Brief

To create a relaxing and inspiring natural garden, which complements the Victorian property with freshly designed interiors. The client wanted to be surrounded by planting to counteract the location and replace the limestone paving with a touch of the countryside to the heart of London.

Design

The Narrative: A Naturalistic Wildlife Garden, filled with colour, which increases biodiversity and attracts wildlife. With spaces to sit in the sun and shade, the client now feels immersed in nature or has picture window views from her kitchen. The birds, bees and butterflies love it too!

This Naturalistic Wildlife Garden demonstrates what can be achieved in a small 20sqm space – with every inch maximised and balanced in terms of hardscaping and soft landscaping. The courtyard feels a world away from the trainline behind – it’s so enclosed, pretty, nature filled and private.

A new boundary built from reclaimed London Mix Yellow Stock reduces trainline noise and pollution. New hard landscaping is kept to a minimum to promote biodiversity and restricted to sustainable and permeable Westminster Clay Pavers. FSC Siberian Larch creates the corner bench seat and matching wall topper. Previous limestone paving was recycled and a new bubbling water bowl attracts wildlife.

All existing plants were retained and worked into the new design. New plants focused on a mix of native and non-native species to increase biodiversity. A new Ficus carica tree and evergreen shrubs now provide habitats, fruits and berries for birds. Perennials, flowering shrubs and climbers attract pollinators, with selections being species rich and resilient. Ornamental grasses provide bird nesting material and soft fascinations blowing in the breeze. Sustainable drainage was also improved by working new organic matter into the soil, horticultural grit and maximising planting.  A new bubbling water bowl attracts wildlife and provides the perfect relaxing soundscape to complement this now beautiful space.

Photography by Elissa Jane Diver.

Build: Acacia Gardens Ltd.

Size: 20m²

Duration: 2022/2023

Status: Completed