Ditchling, 2020

Sweeping prairie gardens

This project came my way when the original landscaper received a surprise fortune and gave up work entirely! The clients had two flights of stone steps and new flint walling in place with a couple of narrow paths, but no plants. In addition, they were unhappy with the look of the path layout as seen from the house, and the rough nettle and hogweed meadow stretching across the site urgently needed taming. 

The original concept was for mixed prairie planting, and a further challenge was to section the steep south facing site into its many smaller climate zones, which range from full sun and sharply draining, to deeply shaded woodland, connected by an avenue of heritage apple trees. 

Working within a tightly controlled colour pallet, needing to provide year round panoramic interest and stylistic cohesion has been a challenging creative collaboration with the owner, who initially had to take a great leap of faith. Additionally, relying on heavy organic mulching for weed suppression and soil improvement, of which 50% needed to be generated on site, this project has been a lesson in the potential speed and efficiency of good home composting.

My design challenge was to interpret the prairie style using a high proportion of European native species, with an emphasis on supporting local bird and insect life. The aim has been to carve out a series of places throughout the site which offer space for relaxation when in the garden, but which also function as a logical and pleasing whole to walk through, as well as being pleasing when viewed from above. This is important as the house is located right at the top of the hillside property, with panoramic views of the entire garden stretching across a boundary stream and onward to Ditchling Downland.

The images here offer a view of the Prairie Garden area and Flint Walk below the lawns adjacent to the house.