Recent Landscaping Project in Hampshire

This 2020 landscaping project is just too good to keep to myself. Make yourself a cup of coffee and join me in admiring the photos of this sunken garden with outdoor kitchen. Stunning!

The project brief

As with most great gardens, this project was a collaboration between Designer, Landscaper and Plantsmen.
Garden Designer Bean Nicholson,  in partnership with Sean Beale of the John Lewis’ Leckford Estate and Nursery, and Landscaper Ben Browning of Unique Projects Devon were tasked to create a sunken garden with kitchen, bar, pool and hot tub.
The property sits amongst the rolling Hampshire landscape and although it is relatively newly built (approximately 20 years old) it has recently been refurbished and extended. The new garden is an extension of the interior works and aims to create a peaceful haven for the family.

Design and materials

The finished garden is big on looks and really does turn heads. Having said that, it’s comfortable, interesting and most importantly of all, relaxing.

Choice of materials was key in this project, and that’s where Richard Bickler’s ability to source high quality landscaping products came to the fore.

Lead Designer Bean Nicholson had specified Purbeck stone – to reflect the area. She also opted for granite setts and porcelain paving for a timeless appeal. Porcelain paving and granite setts were joined by bespoke bullnose copings in slate.
A fire pit was created using paddlestones topped with an occasional cover/table created by a local artisan. No detail was overlooked. This specialist joiner normally works on super-yachts!

Hard landscaping

Every single landscaping project has glitches but this one must have been the unluckiest.
Ben Browning and his team started work on site in late February 2020. The weather was unco-operative to stay the least. It was the wettest winter for a very long time so soggy clothes and hot soup became the norm. Until, 8 weeks into the build, the country came to a standstill as Coronovirus reared its ugly head.
Work was put on hold for a further 8 weeks until it was safe to return to work. Albeit with an extra layer of Health and Safety rules to adhere to.
Hard landscaping finished in mid-June (arguably the hottest June on record!) and the next phase began.
 

Planting
Every landscaper knows that no matter how carefully materials are chosen and placed, it’s the plants that really bring maturity to a garden. They make it look “finished”.
The planting was specified by Sean Beale of the Leckford Estate and Nursery working closely with the clients who are keen gardeners and their garden is a testement to this.
The brief called for a shaded woodland area and the design team made good use of existing mature trees. However, they did bring in some rather special plants too.
The centrepiece is a wonderful Lollipop Yew and there’s also a specimen Magnolia to welcome visitors to the garden and house. Yew hedging guides the eye along the woodland path and a range of perennials bring colour, shape and maturity to the entire space.
 

Working with Arbour Landscape Solutions

This is how Ben from Unique Projects Devon summarises working with Richard of Arbour Landscape Solutions.
“Unique Projects were proud to collaborate and work with Richard and his team at Arbour Landscape Solutions, without
whom this project could not have run so smoothly. UP have partnered with them now on a number of projects and will
look forward to building on this relationship over the coming months with more exciting projects across the UK.”
 
I’m just going to leave it at that. If you love Bean’s choice of materials – here are the links so that you can find them on the ALS website
 
Paving Grout

Border Edging

XTech Adhesive

Existing Stone- Cleaner

Diamond Blades for Table Saws

XTech Porcelain Cladding

Table Saw

Bespoke Slate Steps & Coping Stones

Paddlestones

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