Project portfolio
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One of our main portfolio projects is our own garden in Nympsfield. This can be freely viewed by appointment - simply phone or e-mail to arrange a visit at a mutually agreed time. Meetings and discussions of projects and proposals can be held in our office, a converted building set within the garden.
The garden is a long, awkwardly-shaped plot behind an 18th-century terraced cottage. Our design has created a succession of spaces - including an orchard, small natural woodland, wildlife pond and bog garden. This replaces the inappropriate theme of straight lines - full-length concrete path, square pond and a 'box' of tall Leylandii - inherited from previous owners.
At either end of the garden, the buildings have been purpose-designed to link interior spaces with the outdoors. The whole house opens out into the garden via a sunken paved area, leading past a lavender border planted against a newly-built Cotswold dry-stone wall. At the far end of the garden, a former shed has been redesigned and refurbished to created a self-contained studio living space. This is a garden room that looks outwards, past wildlife pond, bog garden and vines, through specially commissioned arches, back towards the house.
See slide show.
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Barrow Gardens
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Autumn
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FULL GARDEN DESIGN
HIGHGATE, LONDON
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The brief: to completely reorganise a small/medium-sized, enclosed suburban garden, taking into account: mature woodland backdrop; garden storage; existing levels and features - fencing, walls and low-level patio; and requirements for all-year interest and low-maintenance.
The design: move existing shed into shaded, undeveloped corner to liberate a focal area for seating. Realign footpath to give new access via rear to woodland walk and to sub-divide space into planting areas of differing character - eg, shrubs linking garden to the established woodland and with a highly coloured herbaceous border tumbling over a retaining wall into a sunken patio adjoining French windows.
The clients: "We are thrilled with our garden... Barrow Gardens took great care in drawing up the initial design, consulting us fully and involving us at every stage. The layout and planting is excellent and we are particularly impressed with the way that each season has its own interest and character. Bridget and John have a great combination of talents - they are a pleasure to work with and are thoroughly professional. We now have a garden perfectly suited to our tastes and needs - at the same time we thoroughly enjoyed working alongside them and learned a great deal from the process".
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Before...
... and after
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DUNKERTON, NEAR BATH
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The brief: to take a mainly lawn and edge-border garden and design it to provide new seating and dining areas; wildlife water features, (raised bed) vegetable and soft/top fruit areas. Provisos: to maintain good area of lawn for dog play; low-maintenance for planting.
The design: using existing levels to form a tumbling stream, a pond and a bog garden, next to two interlinked circular patios - one providing a large seating / wating area, the other as a separate barbeque and preparation area. Moving a timber shed that cluttered an existing south-facing patio, re-siting it in a newly created 'working' and vegetable garden to liberate a focal corner. Patio margins replanted to create a fragrant suntrap. Planting for all-year interest, with emphasis on fragrance in strategic locations.
The clients: "It was a giant leap - scary when the mini-digger arrived! - but well worth it. This garden space was dull - empty - just a square of grass and ragged borders. We now have a garden we can enjoy on our own or with our families."
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REORGANISING YOUR GARDEN
NAILSWORTH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
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The brief: as an extension of long-term, regular garden care work, asked to provide new bark/chip footpaths accessing steeply sloping vegetable garden.
Work done: researched and sourced appropriate materials - landscape fabric and hardwood chippings; set new levels and steps; installed paths @ 50m, with treated timber edging boards throughout.
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OLD SODBURY, SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
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The brief: to analyse the layout and planting of a large existing garden and suggest remodelling and replanting in readiness for the reception after a July family wedding.
Work done: Designed new planting schemes for several borders, including suggestions for removal of inappropriate and aged shrubs and herbaceous plants and new replacements. Established formal theme to existing stone gateway, aligned with new purpose-made metal archway, specifically to suit wedding photography.
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