One of our designs that creates the look and feel of an established Lakeland garden is in the running for a national landscaping award.
The garden at Lorton near Cockermouth is one of just three that have been shortlisted in the mid-budget (£40k to £100k) category of this year’s Association of Professional Landscapers Awards and it is the only garden from the north of England in its class.
“The original owners, Hilary and Stewart Sawers, had done a fantastic restoration job on the house in the Lorton valley,” says Liz. “It is a 300 year old Grade 2 listed property and they wanted to create a front garden that would blend into this style and the gorgeous setting immediately.”
We excavated a large area of garden, discovering unusual stones and traditional features such as troughs that were then integrated into the new landscaping. We then created a bog garden and a walled vegetable garden with raised beds, as well as pathways, a seating area and flights of steps that already look as if they have always been part of the garden.
“We’ve taken an approach to this garden that’s very relevant for today,” says Liz. “The use of reclaimed materials, the easy maintenance and many of the landscaping techniques are modern as well as sustainable – it is just the look of the garden that needed to be traditional to fit into a beautiful landscape setting that hasn’t really changed in centuries.”
Since completion of the front garden, the house at Lorton has been sold to Amanda and Alex Green: “The garden was a wonderful surprise hidden in the dip of the hill. What delights us is the way it blends with the traditional design of the farmstead and the craggy splendour of the surrounding mountains. It is actually difficult to believe that it’s not always been there. We also love the idea that, aside from its beauty, a wonderfully practical potager garden has been created by Liz and Phil for a Lakeland setting.”
The Lakeland garden now goes forward to the Association of Professional Landscapers Awards 2013 in the £40,000 to £100,000 category and the winners will be announced at a dinner in Kensington’s famous Roof Gardens in London later in March.
“We’re very proud of this garden design and the finished landscaping,” says Liz, “and it would be great to fly the flag for northern landscapers, landscapes and great gardens by winning this national Award.”