About This Project

The Holland Landscapes team are frequently asked to landscape gardens with clay soil. This plot in Billericay however was particularly challenging. A natural spring in the adjoining field means that the soil is frequently waterlogged. The completed garden with boardwalk however is now fully accessible all year round.

The Client Brief

The client asked for a usable garden that works with the naturally occuring wet ground and makes the most of the glorious views over the Essex countryside. They wanted to be able to access the whole garden comfortably with bare feet at any time of year. A natural feel with organic lines was their preferred style and they were keen to welcome wildlife into the garden.

Before landscaping works began our clients worked with our in-house garden designer (Tapestry Design Studios) to agree a layout plan.

Designer

This accessible  garden with boardwalk was designed by Katie Moyes of Tapestry Design Studios.

Before Landscaping

The garden was woefully underused, primarily because of problems with accessibility. In the adjoining field is a natural spring which does tend to cause flooding and waterlogging in the garden.

The uneven surface with slopes leading away from the property as well as dipping steeply to one side of the garden, meant that some imaginative design skills were needed in order to make the whole space more usable and attractive.

The Garden Design

Katie from Tapestry Design Studios reimagined the space in such a way that minimal re contouring was needed. She designed a spacious decked area adjoining the property with steps leading down to a lower terrace. From the side gate, a sloped boardwalk allows access to the lower terrace for wheelchair users.

Gabion baskets filled with natural stone are used as retaining walls and also help to define the journey around the garden.

A large, bespoke built pergola provides shade and shelter for the lower terrace and creates a cosy resting place where the clients can relax or entertain friends secure in the knowledge that they are not overlooked.

Composite decking forms a boardwalk from the house, past the pergola and on to a pre-existing stone firepit circle.

Elsewhere in the garden, extensive lawns and sensitive planting creates the wildlife-friendly green oasis outlined in the client brief.

Landscaping The Garden

When landscaping this garden with boardwalk, extreme care needed to be taken to mitigate the natural tendency for the site to become waterlogged.

The designer recommended using composite decking. This material has the look and feel of natural timber but will not rot or warp in damp conditions. The materials for the decking base were also selected for their water resistant properties. The frame for the deck is aluminium and therefore will not rust or degrade in the damp conditions. 

Filled gabion baskets for the retaining walls lend the garden a mediterranean feel. Our landscapers were careful to arrange the natural stone filling in an aesthetically pleasing way rather than just haphazardly tip the rocks in.

The bespoke built pergola was a joy to construct. Our teams love working with wood and paid attention to detail by hand-making dowels to join the timbers.  The posts for the pergola are supported on brick to keep the timber dry in this naturally wet garden.

As the pergola was taking shape, discussions with the client led to us adding a living sedum roof for extra visual appeal and to attract more wildlife. This was a new experience for us, but after plenty of research and with support from the sedum matting supplier, installing the green roof build up was surprisingly easy to do.

This project took several weeks to complete, and was not without its challenges. However the look on the client’s face when the finished garden was revealed, made everything worthwhile.

Struggling to cope with a wet garden?

A garden with boardwalk may be a good solution for your troublesome waterlogged plot. Why not get in touch with Holland Landscapes for an informal discussion about landscaping ideas?

Alternatively, you may prefer to book a consultation with Katie at Tapestry Design Studios who can design a plan to help you make more of your garden.