Design and Build: Creative landscape gardening in Leighton, Crewe.
The Brief
Our client wanted a multi-use garden. One which was resilient to a large dog, with space for all the family to enjoy. Outdoor cooking and dining was vital as was simple rest and relaxation. He wanted low maintenance with naturalistic charm. This is what we created…
Project Summary
Location: Leighton, Crewe
Project Type: Garden landscaping… design & build
Completed: November 2024
Timescale: 3 weeks
Client Type: Private homeowner
Lead Designer: Andrew Goodwin
Budget: £25-30,000
Our Site Assessment & Spec’
On arrival:
Poor quality lawn
Clay soils with poor drainage
Dirty patio
Overgrown shrubs
Neglected and full of ‘stuff’
Our specifications:
80m2 artificial grass
Natural stone, cobble pathway
Feature porcelain patio with roofed pergola
Water feature refurbishment
Corner patio of Indian stone
Rendered planters with table-top surfaces.
Outdoor fireplace
Fence screen with hazel hurdles
Extensive outdoor lighting solution
French drains and soak away
Natural stone clad wall and searing with oak top.
Design & Construction Decisions
This project required over 140 tonnes of earth and aggregate moving.
The first step was to install the French drain and soak away, completed with a non-woven membrane ‘gravel pit’ plus 60mm perforated pipe.
A 150mm Type 1 and Type 3 MOT sub-base was installed for the paving and artificial grass areas.
We went for luxury long pile, heavy weight artificial grass for resilience and soft feel underfoot.
The feature patio was selected to be porcelain for its low maintenance properties, with slabs of a natural stone tone in colour; sitting beneath of US3 rated timber pergola with roof and gutters for all-weather use.
The fence line was screened using hazel hurdles, complimented by slate stone wall cladding and Oak sleeper topping.
The water feature was rebuilt with slate paddle stones and raised planters built then rendered in white to lift the garden plus give balance between the modern / traditional design theme.
Challenges & Solutions
The diverse and technical nature of this project resulted in it going over-schedule, at which point the weather turned.
Fortunately we had all the paving down in advance of cold weather. The rendering had to be done in a mild, dry few days; following which the colour did not exactly match what was in mind.
We therefore painted it with highly breathable masonry paint once fully cured, so as not to undermine the breathable properties of the utilised monocouch render.
The hazel hurdles, natural by nature, required some swapping and changing to create the desired, uniformed aesthetic.
The outdoor electrical installation required multiple circuits, which we enabled control of via our clients phone with bluetooth connectivity!
Finally, the fireplace was also rendered. Heat insulation was therefore vital, a potential problem we addressed with careful, thick application of fireproof cement to the internal lining of the fireplace and chimney.
The Outcome
The result was a lovely, functional space which fully met the brief.
A harmonious composition of the modern and traditional with multiple naturalistic elements.
The garden is accessible and safe for all the family to use, in all weathers and in all seasons.
We have added multiple functional areas to our clients home; outdoor living, unlocked.
About Goodwin Gardens Ltd
We are qualified paving contractors, with horticultural knowledge and experience of all garden landscape installations. We are design and build specialists offering in-house services from garden design, to groundwork’s and all completed installation’s. Five star rated with and high quality reputation.