Contemporary valley garden

Designed by West and South of England designer Amanda Patton MSGD. This garden, set in a valley just outside Bath, was made up of four distinct areas, bearing no relationship to each other, and all at different levels.

Contemporary valley garden by amanda patton

Part of the garden also projected into a beautiful valley of meadow and hedges. Amanda's objective was to link the four areas and to create a garden that sat comfortably with the contemporary interior of the old stone farmhouse, and also with the rural idyll beyond.

Contemporary valley garden by amanda patton

The design created unity between the areas by using the same few 'ingredients' in all parts of the garden; specifically, these were the use of a double row of stone setts, pale grey paving and a chunky steel edge to all planting areas.

Contemporary valley garden by amanda patton

The main garden, on a slope which rose sharply at one corner, was re-contoured into three level areas; a terrace that ran the width of the garden from the rear (bedroom) doors; a retaining wall to take out 'the lump' planted with massed herbaceous plants and grasses; and a lawn flanked by bands of grasses and flowers that mirrored the hedges beyond, creating a link between house and its landscape.

Contemporary valley garden by amanda patton