Set within the former grounds of Mount Lebanon House, formerly home to exiled Louis Philippe I of France, this large garden is one of several, home now to a row of elegant Artisan houses.

The garden and pond had sadly become lost and overgrown, and adjoining property fencing competed for attention amongst their plethora of unsightly and incongruous ‘behind the scenes’ hard landscaping facades.

The brief was to imagine a garden of two halves; one open for young play, with a lawn flanked by colour and seasonal change; the other an exotic embrace, clothed in layers of foliage and a place for the rituals of sitting, thinking and sharing with friends.

Euonymus screens now grace the perimeter throughout to calm the eye and return a sense of volume to the space. Existing trees were retained, helping to age the garden while providing a contextual link to the house’s age. Once again, and newly imagined, the gentle sound of water falls over stone as it cascades into a wildlife pond, juxtaposing busy London life.

Large, ancient, reclaimed sleepers already on site, were repurposed into wide steps, acting as a bridge between the two areas at a gradient conducive to balancing wine.

Nature is quick to reclaim a healthy space, and Stag horn beetle larvae found during the survey were given a dedicated secluded space to thrive, with Pied Wagtails, Newts, Dragonfly, Frogs and Water boatmen swift to seek out the return of water’s refuge. The bespoke hedgehog boxes await their occupancy - a lesson in patience.

A garden full of optimism and interest, as young planting fills out, knits together and develops. What once was tired, now exuberance awaits.

Location: Twickenham

Client: Private, Residential

Status: Completed

Project: Residential, City garden