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