South Downs National Park Garden
Set within the tranquil setting of a National Park, this garden was designed to offer a sense of serenity and invitation from the moment of arrival. Mature trees at the front of the property were crown-lifted to reveal their structure and presence, softly up-lit for drama and underplanted with shade-tolerant ground cover to create a welcoming, low-maintenance threshold.
A path of elegant limestone pavers leads to the front door, guiding visitors through a restrained and refined planting scheme. Privacy is carefully managed with gated access to the side and rear gardens, allowing for a fluid and secure circulation through the landscape.
To the side of the house, the garden opens unexpectedly into an intimate sun-filled retreat. Here, directional paving draws the eye toward deep, immersive planting beds, sculptural focal points, and sophisticated recliner seating. The path widens at intervals, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and enjoy the views. A gently bubbling water feature serves as both a visual and auditory anchor, enhancing the garden’s sense of flow and rhythm, while linking pathways and spaces together.
A bespoke bench beneath a weeping willow offers a shaded place of repose — just one of several carefully curated stopping points along the garden’s journey.
The experience continues beneath a sequence of planted arches, designed to frame key views and lend a quiet drama to the act of moving through the space.
An elegant outdoor dining terrace lies beneath a canopy of parasol trees, creating a dappled, natural ‘ceiling’ for this outdoor room. Adjacent cooking and fire bowl areas ensure the space is as functional as it is beautiful, allowing the garden to be used from morning coffee through to evening gatherings. Materials were deliberately chosen for cohesion — the steel of the fire bowl echoes the forms and finishes of the water feature, offering a visual dialogue between spaces.
From the terrace, views extend to an orchard and a wildflower meadow, with seasonal bulbs punctuating the landscape and offering extended visual delight through the year.
The planting scheme is structured yet naturalistic, using repeated groupings of architectural plants to create a rhythm of mounds, spires, and seasonal highlights.
This garden blends functionality with atmosphere — a thoughtfully choreographed landscape that feels both expansive and personal, honouring its National Park setting while inviting exploration, comfort, and calm.
