Dulwich Family Garden

The owners of this property lived in a conservation area so had to abide by a few rules, one being that the large arbutus or strawberry tree, had to be retained, as well as a mature and rather nice apple tree.

The existing garden was rather care-worn and in need of some updating, with a somewhat sad shed at the back and some old raised beds. There were a lot of large dark rhododendrons, which sucked out all the light in the garden.

The clients were keen to have a pretty garden, with lawn and flower beds, and somewhere to grow vegetables - plus, with a little one on its way, it needed to be a family-orientated garden. In addition to this, they wanted a new garden building which would sit well with their Edwardian house.

New oak timber raised beds were put in, with one cunningly disguised as a sand pit. A beautiful new building replaced the old shed, and a lovely warm brick herringbone terrace was installed to sit and relax in, with the apple tree providing some shade.

A long border was established down the left hand side, travelling through a metal archway to the raised beds and the back terrace, which now was separated from the rest of the garden with a yew hedge. The client had spent time in Japan and especially wanted a Japanese maple as a focal point. Japanese Hakonechloa grass was used to good effect beneath it, to overspill over the paths.