The Better New Build

The garden hopes to inspire new build homeowners and property developers to make more of their spaces and ditch environmentally damaging artificial grass.
 
Gravel, in place of a lawn, is surrounded by plants for pollinators, native hedging – allowing birds to nest and feed – and two specimen trees, Acer davidii ‘Viper’ and a mulit-stem Crataegus prunifolia.

Reclaimed slate fills the gabion seating, allowing insects to find a home, and reclaimed oak totems have specific holes drilled in for solitary bees. A section of fencing has a hole for hedgehogs to pass through, while a dual-level bespoke water feature, made from Corten steel and reclaimed stone boulders, adds an additional sensory element to the space.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for?
A couple who have downsized from their large detached home to a smaller new build with a blank canvas garden.
Where is the garden set?  
Cheshire.
Who or what is the design inspiration?
The potential of a new build space to be practical, aesthetically pleasing and encourages visiting wildlife.

Key sustainability points

• The garden makes use of reclaimed materials (oak totems, stone boulders, slate in gabion, bricks for raised planters are reclaimed).
• The pavers are permeable, as is the gravel patio.
• The use of gravel in the garden is aimed at aiding drainage in the potentially poor new build soil.