PROJECT 02 · DUCKLINGTON, OXFORDSHIRE
A Cotswold Family Garden Reimagined
Thoughtful garden design bringing colour, relaxation and adventure to a beautiful village home.
GARDEN DESIGN · LANDSCAPING
01
The Brief
Set in the idyllic Oxfordshire village of Ducklington, this beautiful Cotswold property offered a wonderful setting, but its generous outdoor space had yet to realise its full potential.
The clients wanted to introduce colour, character and seasonal interest to a garden dominated by lawn and established hedging. Alongside the planting, the brief called for a covered hot tub retreat with an adjoining space to relax, an improved children’s play area and a practical solution to the restricted manoeuvring space along the existing driveway.
Our challenge was to bring these elements together in a considered design, creating distinct areas with their own purpose while keeping the garden open, connected and sympathetic to its Cotswold surroundings.
02
The Design
The garden was reimagined as a collection of complementary outdoor spaces, connected by a gently winding, metal-edged pathway finished in self-binding gravel. The path offers a practical route to the hot tub during wetter months, while inviting visitors to wander between generous, flowing herbaceous borders.
At the heart of the scheme, an open-fronted garden room provides a sheltered setting for the hot tub and relaxed seating. Egyptian limestone paving and setts bring a refined natural finish, while reclaimed barn boards lend warmth, texture and an individual character to the interior.
Three substantial planted borders introduce colour and movement, with a multi-stemmed Amelanchier as a focal point near the Cotswold stone driveway. Sculptural yew topiary balls provide evergreen structure, balanced by ornamental grasses and flowering perennials selected for a long season of interest and pollinator appeal.
03
Thoughtful Details
The new parking area was carefully formed by cutting into the higher lawn and retaining the change in level with treated timber sleepers. Portuguese laurel hedging, planted at approximately 1.6 metres high, screens parked vehicles and gives this practical space the feeling of a separate garden room. Integrated sleeper lighting helps with parking on darker evenings.
New steps also create a safer connection between the driveway and lawn. Across the planting areas, irrigation was installed to support healthy establishment, with discreet uplighting drawing attention to the topiary and feature Amelanchier after dark.
Carefully detailed timber construction, reclaimed cladding and precisely installed landscape edging help tie the individual elements together.
04
Designed for Family Life
One of the most enjoyable parts of the project was transforming the far corner of the garden into a place for children to explore and play. Soil and turf excavated for the parking area were reused to create three generous climbing mounds, giving the play space its own sense of adventure.
A monkey-bar system, hanging tree swing and custom-built playhouse complete a playful, imaginative area designed to provide hours of outdoor fun.
The project was also a wonderfully collaborative experience. Sharing ideas with clients who had a great eye for detail, including visits to reclamation yards together, helped us create an outdoor environment full of personality and thoughtful touches.
05
The Finished Garden
The result is a welcoming family garden that balances everyday practicality with places to gather, unwind and play. The hot tub retreat offers a peaceful escape, the additional parking improves access, and the children have a space that encourages adventure and imagination.
Perhaps most importantly, the planting has brought the garden to life. During its first summer, the carefully chosen borders delivered a wonderful display of colour, texture and movement, attracting an abundance of pollinators for the whole family to enjoy.
It has been a pleasure to see this garden begin to mature and to watch the family make the most of their new outdoor spaces.
A garden for relaxation, play and everyday family life.