Historic Cottage Garden in the Chilterns
A new oak orangery prompted a request for Chiltern Garden Design to redesign the large front garden of this historic cottage in the heart of the Chilterns.
This historic cottage is surrounded by gardens, paddocks, stables and fields, where the clients indulge their love of horses. Having recently completed a beautiful new oak orangery addition to the main building, the clients were keen on exploring ways to create a lovely garden to spend time in as well as to enjoy through those large glass expanses.
Currently a vast rolling lawn, there isn’t much to lead the eye or create a sense of relaxation. The clients wish to entertain in small groups, and enjoy the space more fully, including space for lawn games and a revamped pond area touted as a possible secondary seating area. They enjoy watching the wildlife that visits the garden, particularly the birds, and also wanted an additional feeling of seclusion and privacy.
Our first thought was to bring the path to the front door away from the house, to give it room to breathe, and create an entrance walkway surrounded by lush planting. A new country-style gate and widened path now leads to the front door, and then turns around the house, changing in texture from reclaimed Yorkstone to a traditional herringbone clay paver path.
Views out from the orangery are paramount, with the seating area set slightly away from the house, creating a gentle journey across stepping stones to reach the relaxed seating area. This is backed by a low flint wall to create a feeling of intimacy in a large garden, and coupled with a bespoke water feature adding gentle sounds of relaxation. Views from here lead across the lawn through easycare planting beds of perennials and grasses, and steps lead down to a cantilevered deck over the pond. Here the family can enjoy sunshine at different times of day, as well as watch the wildlife and waterside planting change with the seasons.
This project is now in build phase. You can follow its progress on our Instagram profile.