A wildlife friendly garden in Beckton, East London
Garden size: 73m2
Project value: £20,000
Garden aspect: West-south-west
Landscaper: Growing Gardens
Our client Kyle wanted a low-maintenance yet wildlife-friendly garden for his plot in Royal Albert, near Beckton. He also wanted spaces to catch the sun at different times of day, dine and entertain, and even space for a future garden office / shed building.
Starting with an empty plot, we designed the garden by breaking it up into rooms to serve each function, separated by generous beds. Himalayan silver birch were planted to provide structure and height, and tall grasses and willowy perennials break up the garden like sheer curtains, allowing you to see through but breaking up the views.
A variety of flowering perennials - including several native species - provides forage for pollinators from March to October. Porcelain paving has been used for the main dining area closest to the back of the house, with stepping stones continuing through the garden to make it cohesive and link all the spaces together. Elsewhere, buff Cotswold gravel has been used for a low-maintenance finish that allows rainwater to naturally soak into the soil and drain away.
New fences on all sides of the garden were installed, with a woven finish to soften their appearance and allow the wind to pass through. All of these fences were then softened further with a border all the way round, using semi-mature climbers for instant impact.
Our client, Kyle, says: ‘Having lived with a very barren and unattractive outdoor space since moving in 4 years ago, it was an easy decision to work with Shaun to bring the garden back to life.
Shaun's holistic approach and focus on creating usable, living spaces paired well with the outline requirements I wanted from the transformation. The proposal considered everything from sunny seating areas right through to biodiversity friendly planting.
The results really speak for themselves. Not only is the garden transformed into beautiful, usable areas but Shaun was incredibly professional, communicating brilliantly between myself and the landscaper. Shaun really understood what I needed from the garden and brought that to life with his eye for detail and passion for the outdoors.’
