Harmony with the Hornbeams

A magnificent old Hornbeam tree in the client’s garden was the inspiration for Robert Johnson Garden Design’s recent project in Ketton. Layered structural interest at different heights and evergreen hedging creates an architectural backdrop against which a modern formal planting scheme can thrive

Horseshoes are rather prevalent in this area. Oakham Castle has 240 of them, for example. And a horseshoe-shaped lawn was one of the starting points for a beautifully designed garden, conceived and constructed in Ketton by Stamford’s Robert Johnson Garden Design and built by Alfresco Landscaping, based in Barnack.

“I approached the owners of the property when I was nearing completion of my Garden Design Diploma course at the London College of Garden Design, based at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew as I wanted to use their site as a garden design case study.” says Robert.

“The south-facing site is adjacent to a handsome stone property built in the 18th century. The family have young children and a dog, so whilst they were seeking a formal theme, it also needed to be family-friendly and incorporate an area for games of cricket and football.”

“The site also has a slope to it and we wanted to retain a few of the existing features, such as the raised beds and greenhouse. The biggest consideration, though, was the protection of the large hornbeam tree – and its roots – adjacent to the house.”

Robert submitted his design and achieved his qualification… but the couple were so pleased with the proposed scheme that they kept the plans and having completed the renovation of the property itself, asked Robert to return and carry out the project, albeit with a few tweaks, refining the design to make it a little more formal.

“There were two main phases of the project,” says Robert. “Phase one focused on the existing garden to the side of the property with formal lawns, vegetable plots and a wild flower meadow. Phase two looked at the grand rear aspect of the house with a large terrace, facing an incredible vista across the valley and gravel pathways from the driveway entrance. Instead of fighting the geography, I utilised the slope to introduce terraces with two sets of steps that repurpose the original period coping stones with their lovely established look.”

“The property had a terrace area with existing Yorkstone paving, which had a lovely  established patina, so we wanted to retain these and use them to create the new terrace with a new complementary path of Sandstone setts next to it.”

“There were also 35 pleached hornbeam trees in the existing garden which we wanted to retain but move to new locations, so we also used a machine to scoop these out and successfully relocate them. We retained the existing greenhouse and raised beds which helped shape the design overall. Adjacent to the new kitchen garden, we created a serpentine path which meanders it’s way through a wildflower meadow dotted with edible and ornamental apple trees.”

“For the children in the family, I made sure there was a sizeable area of lawn for games, adjacent to the main lawn.”

“The formality of the latter was enhanced with linear ­hedging and architectural planting in a predominantly white and purple colour scheme.”

“Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’  is a woodland sage which is ideal for attracting pollinators, whilst the hydrangeas provide late summer interest and evergreens like Ilex crenata and buxus ensure year-round structure throughout the garden.”

“I used Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ trees in various forms throughout the garden, standards as a focal point to the lawn, roof-form to provide shade within the main terrace and pleached for their architectural quality in the driveway entrance.”

“The aim was to  open the view and maximise the effect of the planting. The lawn has been centred on the property’s new extension giving it a formal, symmetrical vista,” says Robert. 

“A focal point of ornamental Pear trees has been added, beautifully illuminated at night, which gives the garden a wonderful feeling after dusk. The clients are thrilled and it’s been a joy to work with them collaboratively to bring the project to fruition!”

Robert Johnson is based in Stamford and is available to discuss your garden design projects, for a free, no obligation chat about your project, call 07730 510047, or see robertjohnsongardendesign.com