About This Project

This majestic home in a busy area of Colchester was built in Victorian times. It had survived two world wars and several changes of occupants but the front garden was really letting it down.  Our brief was to make repairs and to give this building the front garden it deserved. 

Working with a design created by Tapestry Design Studios, the Holland Landscapes Team set about refurbishing this generously sized front garden.

The Challenges

The first of our challenges was to make good the crumbling retaining walls and install a set of elegant railings.

We also needed to clear unwanted vegetation and improve the existing soil.  Which not easy when there’s no room to park a skip or to manoeuvre machinery.  However, the Holland Landscapes Team enjoy a logistical challenge, and took every aspect of this job in their stride.

The Design

Tapestry Design Studios took inspiration from well-known garden designers who were working when this home was built. Peto, Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll all have distinctive styles that are very much in keeping with period properties like this one.

The wall, railings, brick edgings, ceramic tiled paths and planting plan are all reminiscent of Victorian and Edwardian front gardens. We think that the designer’s choices were absolutely spot on.

The garden

4 steps lead from street level, through a delicately crafted gate and onto a black and white tiled path. The path leads directly to the front door where a broad step welcomes you to the house.

This patterned tile is repeated beneath the patio doors that lead into the living room.

At 90 degrees to the tiled path is a wide, brick edged gravel path.  This runs the full length of the garden and around to the side of the house.

Planting consists of a neat lawns, surrounded by low hedges and then generous amounts of herbaceous planting that was so typical of gardens of the time.

We thoroughly enjoyed working in this garden, not least because it made a huge difference to the appearance of the entire street.

Holland Landscapes offers a wide range of landscaping services, including turfing, shed bases, water features, garden lighting and full garden makeovers.  Visit our services page to find out how we can help you.