Following the completion of a house extension, the garden was left with a significant height difference between the new terrace doors and the original garden level. With the main lawn sloping gently down toward the lake, the challenge was to create a design that solved the change in levels while making the most of the stunning setting.

To manage this, I designed the garden across three distinct levels:

• an upper Indian stone terrace,

• a central circular lawn, and

• a lower seating area with steps leading to the lake and floating fountain.

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The upper terrace features shaped Indian stone and a leaf-shaped step dropping to the lower terrace, with curved steps flowing down to the central lawn. The circular lawn, edged with brick and blended into the main terrace, becomes the visual anchor of the middle level.

A traditional-style brick path winds through the planting to the lower seating area, also providing access to the garden shed, the lake pontoon and the floating fountain. Additional steps and a bespoke pergola create an alternative route and frame views between the levels.

Importantly, access from the front garden to both the circular lawn and lower seating area is step-free, making the garden mower-friendly, wheelbarrow-friendly, and easier to navigate.

Planting

The planting wraps around the circular lawn, helping to separate the middle terrace from the lower seating area and giving the impression of two gardens in one.It includes:

• Specimen trees and shrubs

• Mixed perennials, grasses and climbers (including climbers for the pergola)

• Spring tulips and late spring/early summer Alliums (‘Globemaster’)

• Seasonal interest from March to mid-November

The combination of layered planting and the proximity to the lake attracts a rich variety of bees, butterflies and birds, helping the garden develop an informal, natural character as it matures.

Subtle spike lighting was installed along the pathways and within the planting areas to create a welcoming evening garden for summer nights.