Naturalistic Garden Design & Landscaping, Stratford-upon-Avon

The brief

The garden had accumulated several problems over time:

• Rotten, blue-painted decking outside the bifold doors made the transition from house to garden feel awkward and slightly dangerous.

• Old concrete slabs sat at odds with the character of the property.

• Large sections of the natural beck ran open and exposed through the garden, with ugly concrete bracing and a real safety concern for the client and her three dogs.

• The existing pond lacked movement, which was affecting water quality.

• There was little planting to soften any of it.

Above all, the client wanted a space that felt connected to nature rather than separate from it, with a safer and more generous terrace for entertaining. The space also needed better flow through to the wider garden with materials that matched the age and style of the house.

The design

Umber's response was rooted in the land itself. Previously a liability, the natural beck became a organising element. A significant programme of groundworks diverted the watercourse through 900mm pipes underground, reclaiming space for planting borders and a properly proportioned terrace. At either end, the beck was left open and planted with boulders, so its presence could still be felt and heard.

A sandstone terrace in a light natural grey-yellow tone was chosen to complement the silvered timber cladding of the house and echo the stone flooring inside. Reclaimed granite sett cobbles formed the paths, their curves guiding movement through the garden naturally, with joints planted for softening.

Reclaimed bricks were used to build an arched bridge wall over the beck, grounded in the locality and age of the property. The existing pond was connected to a new skimmer and biofalls filter, restoring movement to the water and improving its ecology.

Throughout the garden, planting was chosen for pollinator value and naturalistic character, with ornamental grasses woven through the borders to blur the line between garden and landscape.

The result

The project was completed over eleven weeks. The space in front of the house is now open, safe and generous, with a terrace that invites use and paths that draw you further in. Once an obstacle, the piped beck now contributes usable ground and a sense of craft below the surface. The pond is clear and active, supporting wildlife as it should.

The client described the process as unexpectedly pleasant, the team as respectful and conscientious, and the result as something she continues to watch mature with interest.

Work with us

Thinking about a project of your own? If you're considering garden design or landscaping in Warwickshire, get in touch to arrange a consultation. Call 01926 754 049 or email hello@umbergardendesign.co.uk.