I have lived in Ravensdowne since 1980 and shrubs which fitted in then were now overgrown. A newly acquired section of land resulted in an exciting opportunity to reconfigure our garden. The old fence was replaced and elderly shrubs cleared. Suddenly it looked very bare!

The innocently flat earth, left carefully raked by the Fence and Shrub Removal Firm, soon revealed huge shrub roots and a large quantity of stones and boulders. We had already lifted and potted up 50 smallish plants that we wanted to keep. But it was clear that a lot of hard work was needed before we could landscape and plant up the new area!

We planned an area for a new patio in front of our French windows.

As well as a patio, we wanted more flowers, shrubs, fruit trees, a bird feeding area and access paths. Endless plans were drawn, lists were made and, on the ground, shapes were 'drawn'. The old fence boards were used to help give us an initial layout. We began to think of a planting wall, using the large quantity of quite nice stone, excavated by 'the muscle'.

We had started on this journey early 2018 and many of our rescued plants had to camp out in their temporary pots for several months. It was far from the pretty vision we had in mind.

A local building firm laid the patio and we bought matching stone from a local merchant for a path (leading to the new bird feeding station). A bark path next to the fence gave access to our new fruit trees ( 4 plums and 1 cherry) planted out as 1 year fans (in reality resembling twigs).

It was now April 2019. The patio was finished, the paths created, the wall built, the fruit trees along the fence were joined by several small clematis, 2 roses, a winter flowering jasmine, and underplanted with alpine strawberries and bulbs. The 2 beds either side of the path were planted up with our temporarily potted up plants ( now over a year.....) plus some new ones.

The fan trained plums and cherry flourish along the bark path. A tree peony (on the right of the path) for the first time since release from its pot, reveals that it is yellow!

Spring 2020 and the shrubbery beds start to fill out with bulbs, cistus, lavender, roses, aquilegia, thyme, sage and 2 small 'pencil' taxus ( Yew).

Gertrude Jekyll blooming.

A local joiner made some canopies to 'top' our French windows, improving the appearance as well as providing storm/sun protection. The bird feeding station can just be seen at the end of the path leading from the patio. We garden organically, using no herbicides or pesticides and, whenever possible, choosing insect friendly plants.

At last, a corner to sit down with a well earned cup of tea or glass of wine! Unfortunately, this is also an excellent place for spotting all those gardening jobs to be done..........
We hope you've enjoyed seeing our garden transformation. We have loved it!

I have lived in Ravensdowne since 1980 and shrubs which fitted in then were now overgrown. A newly acquired section of land resulted in an exciting opportunity to reconfigure our garden. The old fence was replaced and elderly shrubs cleared. Suddenly it looked very bare!

The innocently flat earth, left carefully raked by the Fence and Shrub Removal Firm, soon revealed huge shrub roots and a large quantity of stones and boulders. We had already lifted and potted up 50 smallish plants that we wanted to keep. But it was clear that a lot of hard work was needed before we could landscape and plant up the new area!

We planned an area for a new patio in front of our French windows.

As well as a patio, we wanted more flowers, shrubs, fruit trees, a bird feeding area and access paths. Endless plans were drawn, lists were made and, on the ground, shapes were 'drawn'. The old fence boards were used to help give us an initial layout. We began to think of a planting wall, using the large quantity of quite nice stone, excavated by 'the muscle'.

We had started on this journey early 2018 and many of our rescued plants had to camp out in their temporary pots for several months. It was far from the pretty vision we had in mind.

A local building firm laid the patio and we bought matching stone from a local merchant for a path (leading to the new bird feeding station). A bark path next to the fence gave access to our new fruit trees ( 4 plums and 1 cherry) planted out as 1 year fans (in reality resembling twigs).

It was now April 2019. The patio was finished, the paths created, the wall built, the fruit trees along the fence were joined by several small clematis, 2 roses, a winter flowering jasmine, and underplanted with alpine strawberries and bulbs. The 2 beds either side of the path were planted up with our temporarily potted up plants ( now over a year.....) plus some new ones.

The fan trained plums and cherry flourish along the bark path. A tree peony (on the right of the path) for the first time since release from its pot, reveals that it is yellow!

Spring 2020 and the shrubbery beds start to fill out with bulbs, cistus, lavender, roses, aquilegia, thyme, sage and 2 small 'pencil' taxus ( Yew).

Gertrude Jekyll blooming.

A local joiner made some canopies to 'top' our French windows, improving the appearance as well as providing storm/sun protection. The bird feeding station can just be seen at the end of the path leading from the patio. We garden organically, using no herbicides or pesticides and, whenever possible, choosing insect friendly plants.

At last, a corner to sit down with a well earned cup of tea or glass of wine! Unfortunately, this is also an excellent place for spotting all those gardening jobs to be done..........
We hope you've enjoyed seeing our garden transformation. We have loved it!