Project Value*
£55,000
A Very Zen Garden
The newly built extension, with stunning, open plan kitchen diner meant that this garden, sitting at the head of a cul-de-sac in a large suburban estate, required a complete redesign. Overlooked by neighbouring properties, the garden has been transformed into an oasis of privacy, peace and tranquillity thanks to intuitive garden design from The Cheshire Garden Design Studio.
Drawing sympathetically from the ancient art of Japanese gardens, The Cheshire Garden Design Studio’s Jane Bingham has created a garden design that embodies the serene and understated elegance typical of this style. The result is a garden where every element is thoughtfully placed to evoke an atmosphere of quiet repose.
In Japanese gardens, the path holds deep, symbolic meaning, often representing the journey of life. Leading away from the everyday world and into a more contemplative space, the beautiful, dynamic, porcelain path at the heart of this garden is more than simply a walkway; each step encourages a deeper connection to nature and to the self. It offers quiet moments of reflection and emphasises the journey over the destination.
This path subtly directs the gaze and acts as an invitation to explore, influencing how the garden is experienced through a sequence of carefully crafted vistas, designed by The Cheshire Garden Design Studio. Whilst serving as both the main feature and the path to mindful meditation, creative garden design at its finest ensures that this path disguises the steep 45-degree angle of the garden and that the views of the garden from the new extension remain uninterrupted.
Japanese gardens encourage a profound respect and deep connection to nature. Acer davidii, Acer palmatum ‘Eddisbury’ and Anemone x hybrica ‘Honorine Jobert’, are thoughtfully incorporated in the planting plan, producing a softness that enhances the garden’s serenity, whilst creating a landscape rich with seasonal colour and texture that subtly screens and diverts attention from neighbouring properties.
Whilst providing much-needed shade in this sunny, south facing garden, the newly installed overhang dominated. Cleverly connecting the architecture of the house and the garden, raised planters, designed by The Cheshire Garden Design Studio, echo the overhang’s colour and dimensions, creating a pleasing sense of symmetry to ensure the overhang complements, rather than overshadows, the space.
Extending the Japanese theme to the front garden, a cloud pruned Ilex crenata ‘Convexa’ or Japanese Holly, is the focal point. With a continued planting theme of acers and pockets of anemones, combined with fragrant Rosemary and Dwarf Mountain Pine, this garden works to balance the mind and soothe the senses.
Skilfully borrowing the wooded landscape of Caldy Nature Park, The Cheshire Garden Design Studio has created a perspective of enhanced depth whilst maintaining the signature qualities of Japanese gardens: order, natural beauty and simplicity.
* These are approximate values at today’s prices (2024).
