The design brief
Period gardens can easily subside over the years so when new owners move in and want to make their mark, they tend to resort to one of two courses. Either the old garden is painstakingly revived in an attempt to recreate its former glory, or the whole thing is ripped out and radically redesigned.
When Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson were called in to consult on plans for a mid 20th-century property near Chorleywood in Hertfordshire, they proposed a third way. “The original garden was laid almost exclusively to lawn, and was undeniably tired and uninteresting, but there were a few lovely specimen trees and the remnants of a hazel coppice, which we were keen to retain,” says Gavin.
“And because one particularly fine acer grows on a slope, we knew we couldn't go in for any significant land sculpting, which would have damaged its roots. This decision, together with the clients' desire for a softer, more naturalistic plant palette, set the tone for our design.”
