Garden in West Sussex

This property, with views of lush green fields criss-crossed by bands of native trees, is situated above a natural lake to the south-east, part of the River Arun.  The area around the various houses on this property, and the land which was to be the site of the garden, was modest in relation to the landscape surrounding it.

My intention was to make the most of these wonderful borrowed views and, at the same time, to design gardens and planting near the house for the owners to enjoy. The masterplan included a new drive and a series of small gardens around the house with spacious terraces for entertaining their large family and friends. I wanted the planting around the terraces to allow open views of the surrounding countryside and--with the use of grasses and appropriate herbaceous plants--to visually merge with the fields beyond by means of a ha-ha.