Landscape & Urban Design Issue 25 2017 | Page 55

North Hill Gardens As the design was in place accepted by the owner, we started our works with a proper underground drainage system, which is so important in rainy Scotland. Stock is carefully sourced using the very best suppliers and treated with the reverence it deserves, ensuring that it is in tip top condition for your garden. In addition all elements of your project are managed in house; from appointing the designer, producing the concept drawings, detailed costings and commissioning the build, through to creating the garden and ongoing maintenance. Nothing could be simpler. Our last project was unusual, since it was a new build house constarcted on a modern estate, finished only two weeks before our start day. The design challenge was to create a modern garden, using curves, and to include big lawn, a water feature and privacy. The big lawn area that is central for this garden helps to keep the open perspective of this garden. As with many new estates a privacy was a main issue. To provide screening but doing it on a low cost we planted climbers along the fence. The another big chalenge was to raise land level to the neighbour garden level, which was done by retaining walls, either timber or gabions. Timber curved retaining walls made from timber sleepers were implemented to soften the shape of this modern garden. To make the garden more interesting we used different types of material like wood for terrace and plant beds, gabion baskets with custommade sandstone pabbles, aluminium with water feature and decorative agregates. The back blue slate slabs patio provides additional seating area. The planting is simple but effective. The owners request was to design it in a way, so they can maintain it but themselves as they enjoy gardening and watch the garden growing together with them. We planted decorative grass to make the garden more structural. In the plant beds used blooming shrubs and parenials like weigela florida royal beauty, potentilla, campanula varieties, so the garden can bloom with many colours in all seasons. Trees like japanise maple and acer globosum ads not only clour but also interesting shape and shade. To help the owners enjoy their gardening and reap some fruits of their hard work we planted redcurrant, black currant, gooseberry, an apple tree and design a vegetable bed. Nature never stays still and we hope that as this garden continues to develop and grow it should give years of pleasure to the owners and their family. To learn more about North Hill Gardens visit www.northhillgardens.co.uk Landscape & Urban Design 55