Celebrating the beauty of the Cheshire plain

Designer:
Rob Hughes 
Area:
460m2
Location:
Hankelow
Buildtime:
5 months

It’s hard to get a garden with a more inspiring natural backdrop than this project on the site of an old dairy farm. 

Working with designer Rob Hughes we created a scheme that works in harmony with the countryside around it. Open-form Amelanchier trees offer seasonal interest with blossom in the spring and autumn colour but don’t distract from the glorious views of the Cheshire plain.

A contemporary garden with a paved terrace, planting beds and a timber pergola.

Natural planting included Stip Grass for silent movement and a clad feature wall with water feature gently divides the garden and shields the cars on the driveway from view. 

Contemporary garden with layered planting and distant rural views.
Purple planting detail in a contemporary garden with water feature.
Close-up of vibrant red Helenium flowers in a garden.

On initial excavation we discovered the old dairy parlour foundations and layers of concrete hidden beneath the soil. For the future health of the garden these had to be dug out and we used a screener to filter the good soil and send the concrete to be recycled. A slower but more sustainable alternative to shipping in new soil.

Soft yellow yarrow blooms by a sleek, modern garden water feature
Contemporary garden terrace with seating and panoramic countryside views.
Contemporary garden terrace glimpsed through planting, with distant rural views.
Bespoke garden seating with a sleek built-in fire table.
Contemporary garden with stacked stone pillar and naturalistic planting.

A garden to be enjoyed year-round, we built and installed a durable oak-framed pavilion with cedar inlay cladding and micro-cement chimney. Cedar louvre windows built on site block the prevailing wind but allow a lovely light into the large space and data cables running into the pavilion power a TV, wifi, and security cameras. 

Outdoor kitchen with bar seating and timber cladding.
Layered garden planting with stone wall and subtle evening lighting.
Outdoor seating area with fireplace and timber clad structure.
Gravel garden steps with water feature and layered planting.
Close-up of a corten steel garden water feature.

Da Vinci Designer Concrete were commissioned to create a bespoke concrete kitchen, planters, dining table and cantilevered fire table and limestone with natural ammonite fossils was used across the garden to reflect the original dairy farm site.

Garden terrace with timber pergola and modern dining area.
Garden overview with tiered planting and seating area.
Garden seating with wraparound timber bench and soft planting.
Stone water feature surrounded by layered planting and countryside views.
Layered perennial planting against dry-stone walls and open rural views.