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MEDITERRANEAN SANCTUARY GARDEN

South London

This garden combines a mediterranean landscape type with a sanctuary feel, with open sunny areas, and a shady seating area cocooned by trees. The conditions of the site – nearly South-facing and within the London micro-climate lends itself to this kind of planting. 

Keeping it sustainable

The design incorporates the existing concrete on site to be re- used as planting substrate to provide the free-draining conditions that herbs such as Lavender and Rosemary enjoy. This also has the added benefit of reducing the waste produced from the build and therefore the carbon footprint.

Existing rockery stones have been re-used in the scheme to add to the rocky mediterranean feel and are combined with sandstone paving at the beginning and end of the garden. These provide a ‘landing pad’ before entering the shed or the terrace. A winding gravel path creates an exploratory route down the garden, leading to the seating area and shed. New trees have been added to provide privacy and a sense of seclusion. In addition to this, woven hazel screening has been added to the lower fencing on the left, providing an extra layer of privacy. This texture also has a slightly ‘kitchen garden’ feel which works well with the edible herb planting. All the fencing is cloaked in climbers which add to the feeling of being immersed in greenery.

Improving biodiversity

The design is also driven by a desire to improve habitat potential for wildlife. By creating areas of different landscape types, the garden will become a mosaic of habitats – dry/Mediterranean, woodland, and water providing the structural complexity and elements that different creatures need to thrive. The mediterranean plants chosen are pollinator-friendly, and the ornamental grasses provide plenty of cover, edible seed and nesting material for birds. The garden is designed to provide interest all year round, with flower colour and scent in the summer months falling away to texture, berries and seedheads in the winter months.

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