Veronica Morriss, Shrub Border (PE31)

Styles: Conservation and restoration, Rural, Wildlife

Soil types: Loamy

Soil drainage: Well-drained

Soil pH: Acid

Light: Partial Shade

Aspect: South

Exposure: Sheltered

Hardiness: Hardy (H4)

This element of my 1 acre garden is a problem and the first area that I am dealing with. The site is at the edge of a flat lawn and is a downward sloping bank facing south. The bottom of the bank is unseen from the house but it is the boundary with our next door neighbour so on the other side of the bank are the neighbour's cherry, hawthorn and three pine trees. This bank is 19 metres long, 6 metres deep at the west end of the border narrowing to 3 metres deep at the eastern end. The soil is good loam and free draining. I have recently felled 9 very large conifer, holly and ash trees but the stumps remain. There is a stunning 10 metre h x w persica parrotia left at the west end. At the top of the bank at the other end and so very visible from the house is a tamarix and a large ribes. I am now working on a design to give me all year round interest and attractive to wildlife.