A young family wanted a contemporary, fun packed space and to benefit from the boating lake behind by attracting wildlife into their garden.

The garden was transformed from a steep and narrow incline by twisting it on its axis to widen the space, raising and lowering  the levels to create a flat lawn for games and paddling pools, incorporating generous steps for access, opening the view from kitchen/dining room.  Abundant planting attracts bees and butterflies whilst a hidden playhouse and flat lawn attract children all year. A natural fishpond and dovecote offer hours of fun and investigation for young nature lovers. The addition of bird feeders, bird bath and cat ‘scarers’ by the young man of the house has ensured that the garden is teeming with wildlife, including fieldfares, dunnocks, goldfinches, the endangered redpoll as well as frogs and newts.

Photographs by Matthew Gilbert