Case study
THE LENHAM WELLNESS GARDEN
Vanessa and Tom came to me initially for horticultural advice about their garden. They had bought a beautiful Grade II listed country house with an established garden full of mature planting and potential.
They wanted to introduce a sauna, outdoor bath, fire pit, productive garden and eventually a natural swimming pool, while retaining the character of the existing garden.
The existing garden had some awkward levels and a disjointed flow, with paths and borders creating separate areas rather than encouraging you to explore the garden as a whole.
There was plenty worth keeping, but the garden needed a clearer sense of how the different spaces related to one another.
Before
Before
DEVELOPING THE DESIGN
This became a collaborative project with Tom taking on the construction himself.
Rather than producing one finished masterplan, we developed the garden progressively. I established the overall direction through concept drawings, then developed individual areas with more detailed plans and planting schemes as the project evolved.
The whole-garden concept plan helped us think about how the different spaces would connect and how you would move through the garden.
CREATING THE SAUNA
The sauna became one of the garden's more secluded destinations - a space that feels tucked away from the house and separate from everyday life.
I developed the layout and planting around the sauna and outdoor shower, using planting to soften the structure and make the space feel as though it belonged within the established garden.
The existing plum slate was continued into the area, creating a visual connection with the rest of the garden, while the planting brought colour, texture and a more natural feel around the cedar.
CONNECTING THE GARDEN
One of the biggest changes was creating a stronger sense of connection between the different parts of the garden.
The planting was designed to give the garden structure and interest throughout the year, with evergreen planting providing a strong framework alongside seasonal colour and texture.
The garden now feels more connected as a whole, with different spaces leading naturally into one another rather than feeling like a collection of separate areas.
The finished sauna area
THE RESULTS
The garden has become a collection of spaces for living, relaxing and spending time outside.
There are summer gatherings with friends, evenings in the sauna and outdoor bath, and places for the children to explore and play.
The contemporary additions sit comfortably within the established garden, with the planting creating a thread between old and new.
Most importantly, the garden feels like somewhere to move through, discover and enjoy, rather than simply look at.