As garden designers and builders in Leeds, we get to see all kinds of plots. Enormous rambling woodlands, quintessential English gardens, family friendly gardens and sprawling veggie gardens. But we also know that not everyone has a big garden to create their dream. Sometimes, it’s just a little patch of earth we get to transform.

Steve and Laura actually have a pretty decent sized plot to the front and side of their beautiful home in Bingley, so they wanted their rear garden to be a more peaceful, private area. Mainly used for relaxing and entertaining, they needed this little plot at the back to form part of the heart of the home. A place for them to rewind after a hard day and encourage some wildlife and grow a few herbs and veggies.

In terms of style, they wanted it to look and feel like a charming English garden in order for it to sit well with their period style property. They also wanted to introduce some texture, colour and movement along with relaxing greenery. We used a pretty planting palette with species suited to the micro-climate, featuring purple, lilacs, whites and silvers in order to reflect the light and give a sculptural presence. Despite its’ size, Steve and Laura also wanted create a sense of space and movement, and an urge to explorate in the garden and we achieved this with use of sweeping and curving lines, shape and pattern, and the position of plants.

Access around the garden was created through the use of gravel paths, reclaimed bricks, and pavers. We also created a seating area towards the end of the garden to maximise the evening sun. Every little nook and cranny of the garden was considered from the colour of the walls, to the plants that soften the edges of the hard landscaping. Introducing water into the garden created an even calmer space.. plus it’s great for the birds and insect life too.

Which just goes to show.. you don’t have to have a great big garden for it to be amazing… even the tiniest patch can be a little green haven.