City Water Garden

This city garden is a space designed for the whole family. A curving path sinews its way down a long London garden; along the paved path sculpture is also seating, a water feature is also for play.

This is a garden for young, old and all in between. Traditional elements such as winding paths, pleached trees and herbaceous borders are combined with new approaches to achieve a balance and a space designed to stand the test of time.

The garden begins with a dining terrace which provides an entertaining space leading out from the kitchen.  From here, walking along a curving garden path, we meet a sculpture by Ben Barrell: a sculpture which is a seat, a bench, a place to stop and be near the children playing in the water jets. 

Surrounded by roses, this space is tucked away so that it’s a garden secret in a secret garden, a surprise as well as a destination for those in the know. Boundaries are burred and lost in the middle of the city with hedges and espaliered fruit trees. Pebble seats, also by Ben Barrell, are art and punctuation, as is apiece by David Harber in a shadier bed.

Staggered hedges and shrub borders lead to a bespoke play area, with a treehouse, swing, climbing frame and slide. As the children get older, the hedges will be allowed to grow higher and inwards in order to conceal a space which for the moment needs to be visible from the house. 

Photography by Rachel Warne

Jo Thompson’s London water garden is featured in Villegiardini magazine, read the article here (translation available).