This was a Design & Implementation I received after John Stevens at Lighting Sensations in Harston, Cambridge, recommended me to the client.

Their brief was massive; they wanted their enormous lawn area transformed from the old, overgrown area that ws already in the centre of the lawn area and a large established bed along the side and a new bed near the patio to the house. They also wanted their swimming pool area renovated with new tiling and steps, including the tiles in the pool etc., They also wanted the design and all the planting and pool area completed in 18 months so it was ready for their daughter’s wedding reception, being held in the grounds.

My first job was to source the materials for the swimming pool and then project manage the hard landscaping, the result can be seen below.

I also made a planting plan for the new bed we were going to create and also additional plants and trees for the established bed.

Whilst the Pool work was being completed we put weed killer down on the area that used to be a bed and several weeks later we returned, marked out the area that would become the new bed and then got to work clearing it ready for planting.

We also had to clear the large pond area that was completely overgrown and bring it back to how it should have been.

When we started removing the top layer and turning over the soil we found that it was predominantly clay based and had huge clumps of clay throughout and I can honestly say that it has been the worst soil base I have ever had to work with, it was so heavy with clay that it took so much longer to do and planting or maintenance.

We got stuck in that summer once we had it cleared we the planted it with mature trees and a large, architectural Juniper that was planted along with the standard Silver Birch Nigra Trees. There was a huge number of plants to be put it which took 3 times as long as planting in nice fine soil and it was imperative that we put in a seep hose irrigation system using 300 metres of drip hose.

We planted shrubs, grasses, a myriad of herbaceous perennials, annuals before the wedding in September 2023 and as can be seen from the pictures to get it ready for the wedding day in just 12 months so that the plants had matured; I think it is fair to say that the brief was well and truly fulfilled and the client was over the moon.