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.

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.

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.

All photogaphs c. Jason Ingram

Plants list

Click any of the plant names below to learn more about the plant and to add your own plants lists.

Agapanthus 'Headbourne Hybrids'
Amelanchier lamarckii
Anemone x hybrida Honorine Jobert
Aster sedifolius nana
Betula jacquemontii
Box balls
Calamintha nepeta blue cloud
Campanula lactiflora alba
Cephalaria gigantea
Echinacea white swan
Echinops Veich's blue
Eryngium planum Blaukappe
Gaura lindheimeri
Geranium Buxton's Variety
Molinia Heidebraut
Molinia caerulea transparent
Nepeta x faassenii
Pennisetum alopecuroides hameln
Penstemon heavenly blue
Penstemon raven
Penstemon white bedder
Perovskia
Rosa iceberg
Salvia caradonna
Sanguisorba obtusa albiflora
Stachys byzantina Cotton Boll
Stipa tenuissima
Verbena bonariensis
Viola sororia Freckles