Small Cottage Front Garden in South Wales

In this neglected, triangular, south facing front garden, the owners wanted to create an attractive, low-maintenance space to look out on to that made maximum use of its full-sun position for growing vegetables and herbs. The challenge was that there was only 4 inches of soil above the bedrock which dried out every summer, making it impossible for most plants to survive.

Our solution was to create raised beds in local stone in a geometric pattern that embraced the quirky angles. Water supply pipes were laid underneath the paths, with soaker hoses sunk into the beds. This was all connected to an automated watering system, creating moist but free-draining soil, 18 inches deep. Broad beans, courgettes, tomatoes and sweet peas have all thrived here as well as sage, thyme and marjoram. Hollyhocks have been encouraged to self-seed closest to the house to create a productive cottage garden feel.

A deeper bed, also supplied by the watering system, supports a spring-flowering cherry (Prunus 'Spire') where sparrows and long-tailed tits regularly gather to use the bird-feeder.