Style(s)
Kitchen
Meadow
Naturalistic
Orchard
Sand
Working alongside Will Anderson, of Rabble Architecture, I began working on the first phase of this garden in Autumn 2023.
Will came to me with a clear vision for the space; he wanted to combine rectilinear, formal shapes with frothy planting to create a sense of intrigue and abundance. Together we sketched out plans and created a central lawn surrounded by deep herbaceous beds.
We opted to lay self-binding gravel paths with a reclaimed brick terrace adjoining the house. Fruit trees and shrubs were planted that Autumn and the herbaceous layer added in Spring 2024. Now in its second year the planting has matured characterfully and has loose, naturalistic edge.
In late 2024, we began work on the rest of the Walled Garden; laying turf, & creating additional borders for planting.
Large keyhole beds were constructed by Will Gubbins (& team) from oak sleepers thus creating ample space for fruit and vegetable production.
To complement the owner’s newly-built ‘tin tabernacle’ recording studio more planting areas were created. One of these, a large shade bed, is a matrix-style arrangement of Hydrangea ‘Limelight’, tall ornamental grasses, and clump forming perennials.
Location
Firle
Completed
2025
Collaborators
Rabble
Architecture
The other, a large area of sand & recycled brick which was mulched directly onto the existing subsoil, is planted with Mediterranean sub-shrubs, airy grasses, and self-seeding scatter plants.
Having already evolved pronouncedly this season, this planting blends seamlessly into the meadow which a team of us raked over with fine topsoil before sowing earlier this Spring.
Photography:
Harry Brayne