A garden design that uses the stunning Pennine view from an Appleby property as its inspiration is in the running for a national landscaping award.
The design, created by Phil and Liz Newport of Wildroof Landscapes, is one of just 23 across 13 categories that have been shortlisted for an Association of Professional Landscapers Award. Several members of the Wildroof Landscapes team will be travelling down to the Roof Gardens in Kensington, London for the awards ceremony on Wednesday 14 March.
“It’s the first time we’ve entered these Awards,” says Liz, who is based at Catterlen near Penrith, “and they’re certainly prestigious in our business – the equivalent of the BAFTAs – so it was a bit of a shock to be shortlisted on our first attempt. It is a privilege to represent landscaping in the north of England in this way and everything is crossed for the final stages.”
The key features of the garden are two curving and undulating walls, built from local Lazonby sandstone and Lydd cobbles, reflecting the skyline and creating an eye-catching focal point for the garden as well as a means of separating formal and wild areas.
“We’d previously worked with the clients, Jeff and Lorraine, on their front garden,” explains Liz, “so we already knew a little about the kind of things they liked and we quickly understood how they wanted to use the back garden: which elements they needed to keep – such as lawn for golf practice, a garage and a suitable spot for a glasshouse – and also how much they valued their amazing views across open fields to Dufton Pike, Cross Fell and the Pennines. The design brings all that together into a back garden that changes with the seasons and time of day and that will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
“The back garden needed Liz’s vision to link everything together and create a useful but also a beautiful space for us,” says Lorraine, who commissioned the landscaping work in early 2011. “I loved the walls from the start – my husband needed a little convincing – but we’ve lived with them for nearly a year now and the changing light and colour reflects the shadows and sun on the hills. We can’t imagine the garden without them – and my husband happily takes the credit for influencing their creation from their many admirers!”
Liz Newport concludes: “Knowing that Jeff and Lorraine are enjoying their garden so much is the big satisfaction in our work but it would be brilliant for the team if we also got the recognition of a national award later in the month. We’re determined to celebrate whatever and are looking forward to seeing Kensington’s famous Roof Gardens too!”