Family Garden, Currie
This new build garden lies in the Water of Leith river valley in Currie. It started as a largely typical new build garden – rectangular in shape and laid mostly to lawn with a small paved area outside the patio doors. When I first visited the garden however I noticed a couple of interesting features which went on to influence the choice of plants and materials in the design. The first was a striking red brick wall which formed the boundary of the garden on two sides. The second was a raised bed which the client had had constructed from reclaimed railway sleepers and which was planted with a selection of lovely trees and shrubs.
The brief was to create a garden that the whole family could enjoy – the clients wanted a terrace large enough to accommodate lounge and dining furniture; they wanted a large area of lawn to remain for the kids to play on, as well as a dedicated play area. Finally, they asked for a shed and space to grow fruit and vegetables.
The design solution saw the garden divided into quarters – in the sunniest quarter, outside the patio doors, we created a large L-shaped paved terrace. Raised planters built with reclaimed sleepers behind this terrace mirror the existing raised bed across the garden. Adjacent to the back door we create a ‘utility quarter’ which includes the shed, two raised beds for growing fruit and veg, and space for the rotary clothes drier. Beyond this area is the ‘play quarter’ – a large barked area for putting play equipment. An L-shaped planted border screens these ‘functional’ areas from the rest of the garden. The farthest corner gets the last of the sun in the evening, so here we created a second seating area for the clients to sit and enjoy a drink in the evening sun. A pergola over this patio screens it from neighbouring properties.
Choice of planting was influence by the warm tones of the brick wall and the existing silvery leaved shrubs – a mix of shrubs and perennials was selected using a palette of pinks, purples and silvers.
Photos by Claire Cox Photography