In the spring of 2023, the redesign of the garden at Trews Weir Reach was completed.

This marked the fruition of a project several years in the planning and executing. My clients purchased a substantial property blessed with three very unique garden spaces in the centre of Exeter. Each area was given a different treatment to match both the architecture of the property and the existing conditions on site.

The front garden seemed to lend itself to a pared back approach, with large textured white pots planted with dwarf pinus mugo matching the paintwork in front of the living room window, and a gravel garden planted with natural looking grasses and tulbaghia providing a low-maintenance setting ... The client’s sculpture ‘Cedric’ made from reclaimed saws and scrap metal takes pride of place.

To the rear, an overgrown pergola with rambling roses was removed. This revealed the clean lines of the decking, enabling the area to be used for seating and letting in more sun. This also allowed much more light into the living room beyond the French doors. We added flowering shrubs and bulbs to this part of the garden, enhancing the slightly wild woodland feel with colour and extending the season of interest. The living tableau can be enjoyed both from the outdoor decking area and from inside the house at all times of year.

The third part of the site can be seen on the plan. We designated it ‘The Green and White garden’. A further seating area was added here, and shrubs, trees and flowers with white bark, blossom and variegated leaves were added to create a sophisticated and restricted colour palette. The round patio at the far end of the garden makes best use of a narrow corner, and enables one to take in all of the planting scheme and the house beyond from a secluded vantage point.