As garden designers, we often visit gardens to take a look at other designers’ garden design details and planting combinations.
This weekend we went to Holsworth Manor, North Chailey, who hosted an Open Day on behalf of The Bevern Trust, a home for young adults with severe learning disabilities.
Sweet Chestnut pergola, sited a bit away from the barn wall to allow more light for the climbers and to create shadow and a sense of depth.
A curved brick path, with bricks in running bond. The lines draw the eye along to where the path disappears from view, enticing you to find out what is around the corner.
Even a ladder deserves a lovely place to hang! Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris is a climbing hydrangea and will happily cover a shady or sunny wall or fence.
A terracota rhubarb forcer and some rusty metal sports look lovely AND serve a purpose in a vegetable garden.
A sweet chestnut archway really suits this enclosed circular lawn, drawing the eye out towards the copse of silver birch with long grass. The garden is rural and sweet chestnut is a perfect choice for this location.
If you can add a swing to a bough of a tree, then do. Children and adults alike are naturally drawn to a swing – even a simple wood and rope system like this.
Metal work in a perennial border provides structure in winter, and a backdrop to the floral display in the summer.
An urn stops you wandering into a copse with long grass, and maybe would look better if it was within the grass, but still acts as a pause to your journey through the garden.
Old rickety standing timbers located in a meadow provide a perch for birds of prey who need to sit still while awaiting their prey, and also provides a little vertical interest.
Adding structures in the garden, or taking care to consider the smallest of detail such as the wall for the ladder really makes a garden special! Don’t forget the ladder!
