Almond Tree Garden

Forest Hill, London

The Brief

I'd worked with this house before, extending and refurbishing it for another owner back in 2010. These new owners were very happy with their house and initially came to me to ask about a garage refurbishment.  After finding out that I’d since become a garden designer, they asked me to make their garden feel just as good as their house.  

The Design

We took out the tall, dark Leylandii hedge and the lawn, and lowered the rear fence to borrow the view of the trees in the nature reserve behind, instantly making this medium-sized London garden feel much bigger. The beautiful old almond tree stayed and became the centrepiece of the new layout.

Everything on the brief found a home without crowding the space: dining, BBQ, herbs and vegetables sit close to the house, with the furniture tucked to one side so the view of the planting from the windows stays clear. A curved bench catches the morning sun and a fire pit circle catches the last of the evening light allowing sitting spots in sun or shade throughout the day.

Now

The garden changes colour through the seasons, and in the evening a subtle lighting scheme gives it a soft glow. All lighting is downward facing and on a timer, so the wildlife in the nature reserve behind still benefits from dark skies. It's the kind of garden that looks different every time you gaze out at it, and beckons you out to sit and enjoy it.