The tale of two gardens

In South East London, over the past five years, Alex Redfern and Joe Shannon have created from scratch, two gardens with different atmospheres. At the back of their property, they have transformed a grassy slope into a secluded sanctuary with an exotic feel. Foliage is prevalent with the planting of tree ferns, bamboos and palm trees. Dots of bright colours are peppered here and there, with Begonia 'Firecracker' and Amaranthus caudatus. A meandering path made of large railway sleepers leads to the wood-fired hot tub and terrace area. The front garden could not be more different. After replacing the paving which was covering the whole area with topsoil, they have planted many annuals and shrubs. In October, when most gardens start to fade away, theirs is a riot of colours with cosmos, dahlias and marigolds still in full bloom.