Our clients owned a traditional home in the village of Haxby with a large garden and had recently retired. With more time to enjoy their outdoor space, they wanted a garden that reflected their love of plants and gardening.

The existing garden was predominantly lawn, with a handful of established trees, but lacked structure, planting opportunities and defined spaces to sit, dine or entertain.

Working closely with the homeowners, we designed a true gardener’s garden. The layout introduced structure for seating, dining and entertaining, alongside generous planting areas and features including a greenhouse, formal pond, Breeze House and timber pergola.

“Astek have recently completed a major redevelopment of our rear garden and drive. We could not be more pleased with the result. Our experience has been very positive, from the initial meetings with Richard Keast to the laying of turf which marked the last stages of the project. Richard really listened to our aspirations and interpreted them well, including providing 2 detailed plans before we finalised the scope. On the ground we had a great team with the very enthusiastic and hard-working Sam, Mark and Richard who were with us through most of the project. John Barker supervised the day-to-day work and nothing was too much trouble. He seems to be an expert on everything from brick laying, to planting schemes to setting up a pond for cold water fish. We thoroughly recommend Astek, but be ready to wait as they are very popular”

With a large, south-facing garden and a genuine passion for gardening, the challenge here was not space, but creating a cohesive layout that made the very best use of it

The Site & Brief

We were recommended by a friend to help shape the vision and deliver the transformation of this much-loved garden.

The key objectives were to:

• Create the basic structure of a larger garden with areas for lawn, a greenhouse, a separate covered dining space, formal pond, seating areas and room for plants.
• Incorporate details such as suitable surfacing, lighting, drainage, tailored plant design and a new driveway to complement.
• Work within a specific budget to help them maximise the potential of what is possible.
• Create a usable, attractive garden that they would spend time enjoying with their family and friends.

Our local knowledge and a deep understanding of what the homeowners wanted to achieve allowed us to propose a design that made the best use of the space while remaining sympathetic to the house and village setting.

Materials were chosen to complement the traditional theme, and a detailed planting plan was created to ensure the right plants were used in the right places

Large gardens present their own challenges. Despite their scale, they still need to feel cohesive and in context with both their surroundings and the homeowners’ lifestyle.

Working with clients who actively want to spend time tending the garden and regard it as a valuable hobby whilst also providing space for relaxation was a joy. Our plant knowledge, combined with the homeowners’ passion, made for a strong and collaborative relationship.

• A sympathetic garden layout suited to the house and its village location, and the needs of the homeowners.
• Logical positioning of features, including the Breeze House, greenhouse and formal pond.
• Practical elements such as suitable bin storage close to the house and a good-sized shed were included in the design proposal.
• The addition of a timber walkthrough pergola added structure and interest.
• Planting chosen specifically with the homeowners’ preferences in mind.
• Garden lighting was integrated ensure the garden was usable in all seasons
• A new driveway and driveway gates finished the whole project.

Listening closely and responding thoughtfully allowed us to help these homeowners fall back in love with their Haxby garden.

Bringing together all aspects of our design and build service into one cohesive process is always rewarding, particularly on projects like this.