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Northmead

This is our family home in North Somerset, and while there has to be space for badminton and trampolines - guinea pigs and camp fires, there are still plenty of corners to bring in wildlife, grow vegetables and fruit and to simply play with exciting planting combinations.

 
BEFORE: A lot of concrete and privet to contend with when we arrived…

BEFORE: A lot of concrete and privet to contend with when we arrived…

AFTER: Different corners have a loose colour theme. The back door area is now an oasis of yellows and white with shade -tolerant thornless rose ’'Madame Alfred Carrière'.

AFTER: Different corners have a loose colour theme. The back door area is now an oasis of yellows and white with shade -tolerant thornless rose ’'Madame Alfred Carrière'.

BEFORE High-maintenance privet and small lawns quickly removed…..

BEFORE High-maintenance privet and small lawns quickly removed…..

…. AFTER Privet replaced with yew and beech topiary while blue aconitums and sea holly, yellow thalictrum and phlomis replace lawn and bring in pollinators.

…. AFTER Privet replaced with yew and beech topiary while blue aconitums and sea holly, yellow thalictrum and phlomis replace lawn and bring in pollinators.

With new paths and a handful of box cuttings an existing veg garden became an ornamental potager.

With new paths and a handful of box cuttings an existing veg garden became an ornamental potager.

Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) add classy verticals in Summer on path corners.

Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) add classy verticals in Summer on path corners.

BEFORE : Lots of room to play but few exciting corners

BEFORE : Lots of room to play but few exciting corners

AFTER: Front and back gardens were separated with a series of hornbeam arches. A borrowed view of a fine blackthorn in the adjoining field was opened up.

AFTER: Front and back gardens were separated with a series of hornbeam arches. A borrowed view of a fine blackthorn in the adjoining field was opened up.

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Frog enthusiasts soon demanded a pond…….

Frog enthusiasts soon demanded a pond…….

…but the newts have taken over

…but the newts have taken over

Once toddler trampling had passed we could introduce wild areas brimming with pollinator-rich hedgerow species.

Once toddler trampling had passed we could introduce wild areas brimming with pollinator-rich hedgerow species.

Most recently I have had fun putting in ‘mini-meadows’ - small spaces brimming with over twenty species of native wildflowers

Most recently I have had fun putting in ‘mini-meadows’ - small spaces brimming with over twenty species of native wildflowers