THE
PETERSHAM
PLANTSMAN
— Where beautiful living takes shape —
What the Doctor Ordered
A riverside garden designed as a journey through nature, where every turn invites you a little further.
The clients wanted a garden that felt immersed in planting and wildlife, somewhere to spend time together, entertain family and friends, and quietly enjoy nature close to the house. Although long and generous in size, the garden initially felt empty and disconnected, offering little reason to explore beyond the terrace.
The design reimagines the space as a sequence of connected garden rooms, each with its own atmosphere and purpose while remaining subtly linked. The journey unfolds gradually: open lawns give way to more intimate spaces, the planting becomes richer and more enveloping, and views are carefully revealed rather than taken in all at once.
At the heart of the garden sits a circular lawned garden with a wildlife pond and waterfall, creating both a destination and a point of connection between the surrounding spaces. It draws you naturally through the landscape, encouraging a slower pace and rewarding curiosity with changing views, textures and light.
Existing yew and Elaeagnus shrubs, once incidental features, were retained and woven into the new structure of the garden, alongside carefully positioned olives and clipped evergreen pillars and balls. These permanent elements stand strong through the seasons, allowing the surrounding planting to change and evolve through the year.
Planting was developed over time, particularly in the challenging woodland area where difficult soils demanded careful observation and adaptation. Rather than forcing a preconceived palette onto the site, the planting was adapted to responses of successful varieties, creating a garden that feels both generous and naturally at home.
Today, the landscape is experienced as a series of connected gardens rather than a single long space. There are places to gather, places for quiet reflection and places simply to pause and watch wildlife around the pond. Throughout, planting softens every transition, making the journey feel effortless.
It is a garden about exploration, curiosity and the quiet pleasure of feeling completely at home in nature.