The Great Garden Challenge ran from April – July 2005 and was held in the Great Walled Garden at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. The program was shown daily on Channel 4 every afternoon.
Teams of two were each given a plot 5 x 5
My philosophy when designing these gardens was not to create ‘concept’ or ‘gimmick’ gardens but real gardens that real people would be able to enjoy. The result is that the following three gardens are templates that can be adapted for any small garden or could possibly be a ‘room’ in part of a larger garden.
My builder team-mate Ian Penny and I were fortunate enough to get through to the semi-finals of the competition by designing and building these three gardens. We were eventually knocked out of the competition by a very talented team who went on to win the competition.
The Time-Out Garden
Stepping through the Rose Arch you find yourself on a circular lawn edged with a buff
The seating area is paved with Sandstone Paving Circle in Silver Blue. The retaining wall around the circle has set into it at random intervals clay pipes to store bottles of wine.
The border behind the wall is planted up with aromatic shrubs and a cast iron table and chairs finish off the scene.
The Classic Garden
Stepping into the garden one finds a paved courtyard bordered by clipped box hedging. Pea shingle fills the gaps between the sandstone paving and fragrant thyme’s are planted throughout. Two Versailles planters filled with box topiary frame the steps.
Three steps take you up to the next level with a decking bridge crossing the pond to the seating area. The borders are planted with lush foliage plants, the
Mediterranean Dream
With this
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