As the clients are expected to undertake alterations to the rear of the house, it was agreed that the patio and seating areas would become part of the ’second phase’ so as to not damage any new areas whilst undertaking the building works.  It was however decided that the trellis screens and archways, and new pond should be installed at this time.  It was also deemed beneficial to set the plants and new borders in place to allow them to acclimatise to their new environment over the Autumn period.

The first task was to plot the new border and proposed patio areas on the ground, in relation to the design plan…

The new side border shapes and proposed pond location -  tree to be removed!…

Once the border areas had been plotted on the ground, the areas were cleared of all unwanted vegetation.  The existing turf was stripped off, a selection of plants were lifted and moved, with any unwanted plants and turf removed being from site.  The existing dilapidated trellis line was also dismantled in order to be replaced.

With the areas cleared, many tonnes of well rotted manure, topsoil and compost were added to all border areas, thoroughly incorporated into the soil to ensure a healthy growing medium for the new planting scheme.

The new island border finished, adding welcome additional colours and textures to this side of the garden…

The newly planted side and top border areas, incorporating a mixture of shrubs and herbaceous planting for all year round interest…

New trellis screens and archways, bespoke arches and hand made trellis panels ensuring a quality finish…

New wildlife pond in border area, pond dressed informally with cobbles and pebbles to create a natural appearance…

Another quality finish from New Leaf Landscapes, confirming our expertise in both hard and soft landscaping.  We look forward to seeing the planting develop over the coming years, and installing the patio and seating ‘phase two’ works in the near future.

 Our first task is to undertake changes to the existing lake.  Although relatively natural in appearance, the lake is lined with a liner, which regrettably had been poorly finished around the perimeter with the liner being trapped between now rotting timber edgings.  There is no significant feature or planting around the lake, and is purely a large expanse of water.

The existing lake as originally viewed in 2008

Lake perimeter edging, originally installed with timber edging which is now rotting and becoming unstable

After months of careful design & planning, the construction of the lake renovation is now underway.  The design includes the replacement of the existing edgings with stone,  the addition of a hardwood deck at one end the end of the lake, and a hardwood bridge to cross the narrowest point.  There will also be lots of both wet and dry planting areas to aesthetically soften the perimeter of the lake, and help it sit more naturally in its country environment.

Stripping turf off the proposed border areas, and dismantling of the existing dilapidated edgings 

Lowering the water level enough to remove the edgings, and lifting of some existing planting to be relocated

The concrete foundations which will support the hardwood bridge, and the importing of hundreds of tonnes of topsoil for the planting areas

Commencement on the installation of the stone edging, building the first of two rock faces which will be installed, one at each end of the lake

Using mechanical help to move the larger rocks into place.  The rock faces will eventually be softened with smaller cobbles, pebbles and planting

Installation of the woodland lake end, rock work in place, with layers of planting to blend aesthetically into surrounding woodland

The installation of the new Lake perimeter is well underway, with both ends of the lake now nearing completion - keep posted for new updates soon…

Firstly the site must be cleared of all unwanted material, using various forms of plant machinery.  Once cleared, the new drainage system will be installed, comprising of a drainage channel along the lawn edge being linked to a new soakaway.  The area will then be lined with membrane and covered with type 1 scalpings to form a new solid sub-base.  Stone sett edgings will then be installed around all required perimeter edges, which alongside the new border retaining wall will ensure all material is well contained.  Once complete, the driveway with be top dressed with a level layer of decorative aggregate.

Existing driveway area, tired and undulating, with no definative edgings to retain surface

Installation of the site drainage system, a modern soakaway system, with interlinking drainage channels

The new drive sub-base, area lined with membrane, prior to being covered with a compacted layer of  type 1 scalpings

New sandstone sett edgings being installed selected to complement house brick tones, and new border retaining wall using contrasting brick to make obvious

Keep posted for more site progress next week…

Design Plan produced for garden & site preparation works following the site clearance.

Sandstone circle installed on top of sub-base & top patio nearing completion, with stone setts and random paving around circle.

PROJECT FINISHED

What a difference a week can make!  Following completion of the paving at the top of the garden, the lower corner pergola and additional patio area were installed, with additional trellis screens linked to both the pergola and archway.  Stone setts sourced to match the paving were then laid around the perimeter of the scree area, to separate the pebbles from the planted border.  Both the scree area and border planting were implemented prior to top dressing each area, the scree with pebbles and cobbles, and the borders with bark mulch. 

Finished patios - sandstone circle with sett detail, and lower patio with castellated edges 

Decorative low maintenance scree area, and lower pergola, trellis screens & archway

 Another finished New Leaf Landscapes garden, a pleasing result in a relatively short time, which has given the client a better looking, practical, low maintenance garden, ultimately fulfilling the design brief.  We wish them all the best with their garden!  Another satisfied customer - see our Testimonials

After a considered planning application approval, work was allowed to start on this garden outbuilding.  To be in keeping with both the property and surroundings, the building was to be constructed using reclaimed bricks and tiles, and newly sourced but ‘weathered’ effect stone, specifically masoned for us to build with.

Getting out of the ground - building interior concrete block walls & outer decorative stone and reclaimed brick walls

Walls nearly finished - working hard towards getting the roof on….

First part of the complex roof structure in place

The finished buiding, with reclaimed tile & bespoke leadwork roof, and cedar hardwood doors and windows

As you can see, this custom building has been both designed and built to the highest possible standards, using only the most sympathetic, characterful materials.  This is one of our most recent completed garden buildings and one of our proudest construction achievements of 2009 so far. 

If you want to be the next, feel free to view our Specialist Brickwork and Custom Garden Structures pages for more details on these specialist services.