Contemporary Garden, Chilterns

Perched high up on a hill overlooking a picturesque valley of the Chilterns, this plot of land was the ideal location for a new home for architect Jim Eyre and his wife, Karen. Besides a few mature trees at the edge of the site, the couple were left with a blank canvas and turned to garden designers Julie Toll and Ian Kitson to create a garden around their new house. A tricky hilly terrain and a desire to encompass the surrounding landscape led them to focus on the planting. Close to the house, small gravel beds have been filled with drought tolerant plants including Euphorbias, Hylotelephium as well as aromatic plants including lavender and Oregano, their purple hues contrasting with the green of the slow growing pines. Further down, the planting palette softly develops into a large prairie with a blend of cool-toned perennials combined with ornamental grasses swaying in the breeze. In mid summer, touches of colour are provided by large clumps of Echinaceas, Agastaches and Perovskias with tall Verbena bonariensis and Allium sphaerocephalon providing vertical accents to the planting. A grass path has been carved through the vast prairie enabling to feel immerse into the garden whilst steps and retaining walls have been conceived with Corten Steel, complementing the materials used for the house.