• Porcelain tiles, brick slips and wooden cladding are used to disguise what could be an unattractive block wall that cannot be replaced. The brick path that runs through the garden appears to continue up the wall, so that the materials flow throughout the design
• A corten steel bowl with water adds a tranquil focal point to be viewed from the seat. Chosen because of its rusty colouring, the bowl perfectly blends with the oak of the seat and cladding to ensure continuity of colour in different parts of the garden
• Alongside the seat, white-flowering Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom' was selected for its attractive large blooms, which light the corner of the garden beautifully

A Place To Ponder takes its inspiration from a simple idea – that the garden should be a place to enjoy and at the same time provide a sense of calm. This garden incorporates traditional and contemporary materials and a planting palette including formal yew topiary, traditional shrubs and contemporary perennials.

The garden appeals to the part of us that appreciates the new and yet finds pleasure in things remembered from the past. It demonstrates how a forgotten corner can be transformed into a pocket haven with a relatively light touch and structurally diverse planting.