Sunken Treasure
GARDEN DESIGN
Garden designers Lesley Hegarty and Robert Webber get that sinking feeling
Is your garden flat and boring?
If it is why not explore the design possibilities of sunken areas. Medal Winning garden designer Kate Gould has presented minute and carefully designed sunken spaces at the last two Chelsea Flower Shows. And these can certainly present uplifting opportunities for both gardener and garden user.
Changes of level add significantly to the visual interest in gardens especially where the ground is flat. The change of viewing perspective means that you see a wider area. Even just 30cm can make a considerable difference. You can then make a feature of your ability to look down from a little height and indulge in some pattern, be it a pebble mosaic, a knot garden or a simple pattern of beds.
Sunken areas are therefore ideal for a formal garden. This could possibly be within a larger more informal context, but they should not be dismissed in even quite small gardens. By centring a pool in them or perhaps a seating area you can give heart to even a tiny space. If your tastes are more informal you might opt for a conversation pit. Add a built in seat, a fire pit and you have some sexy outdoor entertaining space.
The big boost of sunken areas is that, if placed in the sun, shelter from wind makes them into a sun trap and they can offer vastly increased warmth for sitting out. Just the spot to take the paper and a glass of ‘vino locale’ on a sunny day when there is wind, but you want to sit outside. Such a feature could be sunk, into the ground or even built into a slope so that it is enclosed at the back and open at the front. (Interestingly this technique also works well with water features, since having the waterfall at the back allows a significant fall for the water.) Another payback of sunken space is that you can surround yourself at eye and nose level with beautiful plants around the walls that please all the senses.
Equally casual in a shady area could be a ferny ‘grotto’. Sinking an area in shade will capitalise on the moist, cool aspect. Why not build a sepulchral niche into the wall for that touch of mystery? Style it with ferns, mosses and selaginellas and the area as a whole with a fountain, mossy logs, wrought iron Victorian furniture and ivy tumbling down the walls - the perfect, atmospheric place to idle away the hottest of days.
Changing the levels in your garden can also be a way of
giving yourself more privacy - perhaps nude sunbathing is your thing! We seem to remember our design tutor at college saying that every
garden should have at least one secret place, where you could sunbathe completely naked with your favourite novel and a big box of chocolates! Well, a fall of 1 metre and a 1 metre wall or planted screen around gives a serious amount of privacy. Top up that all-over tan!
The walls of your sunken feature may be most cheaply achieved using sleepers. Or go to town with bricks or stone. If you use stone, try making it local stone since this will bed the feature into the landscape. And stone or brick certainly allow more niches for plants within the walls which will furnish the space and make it feel less sterile. In fact retaining walls significantly increase growing space and provide different microclimates for growing special plants both in the walls and in the sheltered climate at the bottom. Your local nursery or garden centre will be able to give good advice on planting appropriately.
Regarding construction, unless you are of a practical bent you might be wisest to seek outside help. There are certainly issues such as steps or a ramp for access, drainage of the sunken area itself and sideways travel of groundwater through the retaining walls to be considered. Sounds complex? Not really. None of this would be beyond a reputable local landscaper or builder. But if your retaining wall exceeds a metre you should certainly consider employing a structural engineer!
As human beings, a certain level of enclosure makes us feel safe. It really is as simple as returning to the womb! And this security blanket feel makes sunken areas a real lifestyle choice.
Yes, getting that ‘sinking feeling’ can feel so right!
Lesley Hegarty and Robert Webber
www.hegartywebberpartnership.com
Country Gardener
29
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