www.Outerspace Creative Landscaping designed this large accessible garden for a family with a very active outdoor lifestyle. The challenge was to use the additional requirement of wheelchair access to create a garden for the whole family to use and enjoy. Level changes were resolved across the whole garden using gently sloping curved paths to create some great dynamic lines.
The garden although located on the outskirts of Bristol has a semi-rural setting and is surrounded by large mature trees and hedges. The central feature of the garden is a stunning raised circular lawn, with paths wrapping around the perimeter set at shallow gradients.
The paths are finished with resin bound gravel, a great material for forming curves and very wheelchair friendly. Curved planting strips form concentric arcs around the lawn and these are set at different heights making them visible from the lawn, lower terrace and the property. Raised vegetable beds radiate out from the central lawn and can be accessed from both the sloping path and stepped pathway on the far side.
A smaller satellite lawn floats off the main lawn and is the perfect venue for a summer picnic, whilst further lawns extend to create wilder areas for chickens, fruit trees and climbing frames. An additional straight path extends from the edge of the circular lawn, like the hand of a clock, to reach the west facing firepit area, a great destination for a sundowner at the end of the day.
The generously proportioned porcelain terrace adjacent to the house accommodates a large dining area, BBQ and outdoor living area with plenty of circulation space all around. The surface is smooth and joints minimal for easy wheelchair movement. A flush threshold detail was created between the interior wooden floor and the terrace outside. This was achieved by using Millboard composite decking to create a ‘bridge’ between door threshold and the porcelain terrace beyond.
The planting palette is bold and punchy with cool blues and purples contrasting with warm bronze and orange tones. Strong architectural planting is softened with evergreen ferns and grasses along with flowering shrubs and spring bulbs for an early hit of colour.
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