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Design ideas for a small garden / Where to find a designer?

iain_bonhamiain_bonham Posts: 6
in Garden design
Hello. I hope everyone is safe and well!

Over the past few weeks I have been working on levelling a section of our garden, and now at the stage at needing to think about planting and design.

I’ve contacted a number of Garden Designers, but haven’t been able to get someone interested in the project - maybe too small?!

Does anyone have any advise or who anyone that would be able to support with the design and planting scheme.

Many thanks for your time.
Iain
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Posts

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Post a photo Iain and try us! Between us we have loads of experience and lots of us are interested in garden design.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • iain_bonhamiain_bonham Posts: 6
    Hi Lizzie

    Thanks for your message.
    Couple of photos - looking to start with the level section at the top of the garden first.

    :-)
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Hi Iain, thanks for posting photo, it really helps.  Lovely view across to the woods, whereabouts are you and do you know what type of soil you've got, i.e. clay, alkaline, acid, sandy etc. It makes a difference as to what plants to recommend. Secondly what did you have in mind, formal, low maintenance, cottage garden? Do you want to hide the road?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • iain_bonhamiain_bonham Posts: 6
    Hi Lizzie

    Thanks for the comments.

    The main reason for levelling this section was to give us a little flat section for our daughter to be able to play on.

    We were thinking about having planting in front of the rockery to soften it and make it safer.

    We were thinking of having a few more sections of planting to help make it feel a bit more friendly and private, but most the area will be lawn.

    The road view doesn’t need to be block out with planting.

    Not sure if we should/ can do something with the sides and banks?

    This flat section is 7.5m wide and 6.5m long.

    The area is in partial sun (morning, and early afternoon). Yes it’s fairly exposed to the wind and cold.

    I’m sorry not sure on the soil type, I don’t think it’s sandy. We have covered it with top soil to help with the lawn.

    We are in Bolton.

    Cottage Garden would be lovely.
    We do need it to be fairly hardy tho as pretty exposed.

    Many thanks 
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Thanks for that info @iain_bonham, not far from my brother in Prestwich then! I can ask him what plants do well in his garden as we're down South which does affect which plants to choose.

    More questions I'm afraid. May I ask how old is your daughter (might make a difference to plant choices). I'm assuming you are going to leave the bottom section as lawn. Will your daughter be playing on that bit as well or is it too steep? Although you said you don't need the road screened, a hedge/shrubs along the bottom there would act as act as windbreak and make it more private. Do you need some form of  seating so you can supervise your daughter? A trampoline/swings/slide/sandpit?
     
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • iain_bonhamiain_bonham Posts: 6
    Hi Lizzie

    Oh yes Prestwich is close by!

    Our daughter is 2 years old.

    Yes we are going to leave the bottom section as lawn - she doesn’t enjoy playing on it as the slope is too much for her to run about on.

    Yes I think you could be right about the hedge/ shrubs acting as a windbreak - that’s a good idea. It also might help keep her on the flat section more too!

    Seating would be lovely - we hadn’t thought about that!

    We had been thinking about a trampoline actually - you must be a mind reader!

  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    I just wanted to say what a beautiful view! No shortage of trees 🙂

    Really interested in seeing what others suggest! 
  • sabeehasabeeha Posts: 344
    From an entirely fun perspective you could have a slide as a way down from the top to the bottom - I don’t know how much it would do for the garden visually though! 
  • iain_bonhamiain_bonham Posts: 6
    Thank you!
    Yes that would be a fun idea.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    @iain_bonham, no mind reader - I've just got grandchildren! Thanks for the additional info, I'll have a think and post again tomorrow - my internet connection is slowing right up now. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
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