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The garden hopes to inspire new build homeowners and property developers to make more of their spaces and ditch environmentally damaging artificial grass.
 
Gravel, in place of a lawn, is surrounded by plants for pollinators, native hedging – allowing birds to nest and feed – and two specimen trees, Acer davidii ‘Viper’ and a mulit-stem Crataegus prunifolia.

Reclaimed slate fills the gabion seating, allowing insects to find a home, and reclaimed oak totems have specific holes drilled in for solitary bees. A section of fencing has a hole for hedgehogs to pass through, while a dual-level bespoke water feature, made from Corten steel and reclaimed stone boulders, adds an additional sensory element to the space.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for?
A couple who have downsized from their large detached home to a smaller new build with a blank canvas garden.
Where is the garden set?  
Cheshire.
Who or what is the design inspiration?
The potential of a new build space to be practical, aesthetically pleasing and encourages visiting wildlife.

Key sustainability points

• The garden makes use of reclaimed materials (oak totems, stone boulders, slate in gabion, bricks for raised planters are reclaimed).
• The pavers are permeable, as is the gravel patio.
• The use of gravel in the garden is aimed at aiding drainage in the potentially poor new build soil.