A Windrush Valley Village House
An historic gem, nestled in the Windrush Valley
In 2015, my clients asked me to design a new border for their idyllic new home, a large, late 17th century Cotswold cottage set in an acre of picturesque gardens, nestled in a quintessential Cotswold village in “The Windrush Valley”.
I had already enjoyed the privilege of designing their previous garden and thereafter maintained a close relationship with them and the garden I had designed. So, in September 2021, when they asked if I would undertake a complete garden design for them, naturally I was delighted and said “Yes!”, knowing this would be a very special project indeed.
Accordingly, I drew up a design that was quickly agreed and could not wait to get started.
The following images show the garden at various stages, from construction through to finished planting and how it transitioned through each stage of development to the haven of countryside bliss it is today.
What made this project so very special was the inclusion of fifteen, very special 40-year-old Pear espalier, which gave the property a whimsical yet elegant touch...
...along with feature bespoke Fagus (Beech) topiary domes ~ that needed to match the considerable size of those planted seven years ago and further adorn the garden each season with stunning changing colours.
How the Magic happened...
Needless to say, the logistics of establishing such magnificent specimens required considerable planning and the planting itself tremendous care: these were not exactly small plants one could easily whip out and replace!
The addition of hundreds of Hornbeam plants and Yew for hedging meant moving and replanting some fairly large topiary pieces as well.
Transporting and laying the main lawn and wildflower turf was a bit of a job also...
But it was well worth the effort!
The paramount requirement was meticulous attention to detail.
To this end, literally no stone was left unturned...
Stone walls had to be dismantled to facilitate transportation of statement plants and landscaping equipment ~ through a neighbouring orchard, presenting a significant logistical challenge that only served to make the project more interesting!
We also introduced new structures made to look as though they had evolved over time, using artisan craftsmen who painstakingly laid old cobbles to look as if they had been there since the cottage was originally built.
Stone troughs were delicately positioned to ensure they looked as though they had always been there.
Beautiful lead work adorned carefully restored traditional water features.
Individual hand-made oak posts were assiduously inlaid with lead work affixed with traditional copper nails.
A Beautiful Cotswolds Haven
Soft, meandering mown paths, flowing towards intimate seating areas allow observers to sit and enjoy watching the butterflies and bees fluttering and buzzing amidst a vast expanse of wildflower turf, bringing each element of the project together in a perfectly natural way.
Swathes of carefully selected spring bulbs and roses will be planted this autumn to provide a profusion of fragrance and colour in the coming years.
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Everyone is delighted with the result and, having seen the garden progress so well from plan to realised vision, now looks forward to watching it establish, evolve and blossom over the months and years that lie ahead.
A Feast for the Senses in the Windrush Valley
You can view this beautiful garden in all its glory and the sensory pleasures it offers in the image gallery below.
If you would like a garden paradise of your own,
please contact me, Sue Bradbury, for a chat on 07831 464 956.