The Paddock - Hadlow

Just under an acre in size, this former paddock was used for many years as an area for a game of cricket or football for the family. When we became involved in the garden design project, the owner had his heart set on a new exciting addition to his already well-established garden nearer the house. This garden is still in development, but is already starting to take shape.

The garden is dominated by a formal area of deep curved planting borders, dissected and framed with grass walkways that guide you through the planting to the different areas of the garden. At the heart of the formal area, a paved circular seating area resides centred amongst the planting, marking a central point where vistas/grass pathways meet, forming a network of views. The most striking of these vistas is the main tree avenue which runs through the central seating area and is best viewed from the entrance to the garden where it frames a Cornus controversa 'Variegata' at the base of the garden.
 
A curved pathway sweeps down from the new kitchen garden, past the formal area to the natural pond and finishing at the entrance to the substantial wildflower meadow. Currently in progress, but once established the wildflower will wrap almost the entirety of the formal area, blending the edges of the design in to the beauty of the surrounding natural landscape.
 
Planting in this garden is generous, there is a formal element of symmetry provided by topiarised shrubs and the repetition of trees, contrasted with the looseness of naturalistically styled perennial and grass-like planting. This will help to blend and compliment the natural wildflower meadow, blurring the edges and ensuring a softness to the design. The garden is already a hotspot for a variety of pollinators helped by the native and cultivar planting alike, which should only increase once the garden becomes fully established.