Style(s)
Cottage
Orchard
Meadow
Naturalistic
Woodland
This project, undertaken whilst still working full-time as Head Gardener at Charleston, entailed working with local artists, Tess and Alfred Newall, at their home in Sussex.
Tess and Alfred came to me with a well-defined vision for their garden where they hoped to feel immersed in the local South Downs landscape.
They dreamed of creating a garden that was brimming with cottage garden romanticism and colour whilst also remaining wild-by-nature, thus flowing effortlessly into the fields.
Creative by nature, Tess and Alfred were hands-on in their approach and we worked together to define the shape of the borders and choose plants.
It was apparent to me on first viewing that more light needed to be brought into the space. We chose to thin out the canopy of existing ash trees & remove a number of shrubs. Alongside a reduction to the existing hedgerow this soon had the desired effect, immersing the garden in its surroundings and creating a fresh, open feel to the space with which we could now work.
Location
Alciston
Completed
2023
Collaborators
Alfred & Tess
Newall
AG Projects
Kirst Kelly
Soft landscaping (by AG Projects) allowed us to create naturalistic beds that carry the vista from the house through to the Downs. Initially planted with a range of cottage garden favourites & ornamental grasses the garden has continued to evolve under the skilled custodianship of Kirst Kelly who has added her own flavour to the palette over the last couple of years.
Photography: Kim Lightbody (for Inigo House)