The Small Garden Sanctuary

For this city-based wildlife haven design for a period terrace in Plymouth Devon, making the best use of limited space was essential. This was achieved through:

• A flexible seating area: A central circular seating area optimises the space and allows the client to entertain guests or follow the West Country sun (or shade!) throughout the day.

• Bespoke storage: I designed two custom multi-functional garden storage units that disguise the water butt, incorporate a composting area, and provides valuable additional seating.

• Strong geometry: the geometric design ensures the small footprint feels intentional and structured even when softened with planting.

The design prioritised a low-impact approach through:

• Climate-resilient planting: The planting was designed to be hardy, suiting the specific conditions, reducing resource-intensive care and boosting biodiversity.

• Sustainable materials: The design implemented Sustainable Urban Drainage Solutions (SUDS) and materials with a low environmental footprint.

• Retaining and reusing: Incorporating existing beloved plants and the natural stone boundary wall, and providing dedicated space for the containers and garden art the client wished to retain, not only reduced the quantity of new resources used, but also helped the garden feel more established and less ‘installed’.

A peaceful sanctuary for wildlife and the client, that complements the home’s period architecture.