Design & Build: Landscaping a Sensory Garden near Nantwich
The Brief
Our clients had children with additional needs coupled with home school practices. They required an overgrown ‘plot’ to be transformed into a garden suited to wheelchair movement plus sensory stimulation and holistic therapeutic uses. They also required off-road parking with ease of access from the house.
The ground was essentially rubble with very poor quality soil, with zero practical value when we arrived.
Project Summary
Location: Nantwich, Cheshire
Project Type: Garden design and build
Completed: May 2024
Timescale: 3 weeks
Client Type: Private homeowner
Lead Designer: Andrew Goodwin
Budget: £15-20,000
Our Site Assessment & Spec’
Ground conditions were rubble
Drainage was poor
Existing path had loose slabs
Standard soil enrichment would not be possible.
This garden required complete excavation to 300mm depth before replenishment of soil plus installation of Type 1 MOT sub bases onto which to build.
Design & Construction Decisions
Landscaped Geogrid driveway built onto 200mm subbase, followed by screeding layer of limestone dust below geogrid filled with meadow suited soil.
Permeable Resin bound pathway giving circular route around the garden.
Amphitheatre of angled sleepers creating enclosure with opportunity to lighting.
Rainbow tunnel of coloured Perspex plus timber arbour at entry points to the garden.
Large trampoline with landscaping back ground cover.
Concrete base for wheelchair accessible swing.
Planting focused on scent, texture and colour.
Challenges & Solutions
The soil conditions in this garden were so poor that standard improvement practices would not have been effective. We therefore had to utilise complete removal and replenishment.
The volume of earth and aggregates moved was circa 140 tonnes, for which we had to use grab lorries for collection and delivery into the garden.
The range of landscaping skills required was extensive, so we used a specialist partner to install the finishing layer of resin to the pathway.
A soak away or other man-made drainage solutions were not possible in this garden, therefore we had to use permeable sub bases and utilise natural solutions.
The Outcome
We transformed this garden from a waste land into a fully functional, multi-use space which meets the neuro-diverse needs of our clients children and indeed their own needs for outdoor enjoyment.
The planting scheme will require periodic maintenance, including weeding, to keep it looking its best; predominantly due to its open countryside location.
The range of installations have been built to last with proper foundations and careful construction.
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.