Larger Projects

Family home in East Hendred, Oxfordshire.

This large patio area to the side of a Grade 1 listed property dating back several centuries featured a no-longer functional well and hand pump that stood proud of the surrounding paving that had been laid without any thought to levels, which meant the pump stood at the apex of a mini-hillock, so to speak. Crazy-paving was clearly the fashion when the patio was originally laid, which gave the landscaper license to accommodate any and all sloping areas with ease (you cannot bend a large slab but you can follow any contour with a collection of smaller pieces!).

It was decided after consultation to retain the pump and create a level 30+ metre square area around it to provide ample space for a large table and chairs and from there, introduce a gentle slope down to the bothy on one side and a ramp to the garden path on the other. Levelling out the pump area meant creating a raised edge to the path alongside the house and necessitated the insertion of a step. A low wall along the border opposite was built to stop ivy and laurel spreading freely onto the patio.

The main challenge for this project was reconciling the different angles of the drops to the paths and the bothy. The ramp to the garden path meant a potential trip hazard was unavoidable where it met the drop from the level area but nothing a strategically placed pot wouldn't solve! The client had also planted passion flower and jasmine to climb up the trellis, so it was necessary to ensure work did not affect their ability get roots down into soil.