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Rural Suffolk garden

A naturalistic country garden in mid-Suffolk

This design integrates the garden with both the new architecture and surrounding Suffolk landscape by referencing and blending the rural character and geometry of each.

Closest to the house, the garden layout echoes the geometric order of the architecture, while to the south the garden layout takes on the arrangement of local, historic arable field patterns.

A sense of place is emphasised and celebrated throughout the design, with the naturalistic garden sitting harmoniously in its rural Suffolk setting.

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting front garden euphorbia palustris cenolophium denudatum silver birch trees betula jacquemontii geranium rozanne hakonechloa macra timber architecture limestone gravel drive

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden front garden euphorbia palustris cenolophium denudatum silver birch trees betula jacquemontii geranium rozanne hakonechloa macra timber architecture limestone gravel drive

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden black timber barn shadow morning light euphorbia cenolophium denudatum silver birch trees betula jacquemontii geranium rozanne hakonechloa macra gravel path

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting front garden euphorbia cenolophium denudatum silver birch trees betula jacquemontii geranium rozanne

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden timber barn tree shadow morning light euphorbia cenolophium denudatum silver birch trees betula jacquemontii geranium rozanne hakonechloa macra gravel path anemone honorine jobert

Transitioning north-south, the site gradually opens up to the landscape.

Woodland-style planting in the arrival areas to the front, transitions to a perennial garden around the main outdoor living spaces, which in turn gives way to naturalistic wildflower meadow, rich in native flora.

A productive garden is immersed in the centre of the site, with greenhouse, small orchard and raised beds surrounding by beautiful design planting areas.

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden perennial plantin gravel path lawn greenhouse oak tree

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden perennial planting gravel path lawn greenhouse oak tree

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden echinacea magnus persicaria alba gravel path

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden seating area sesleria aster crabapple tree

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden echinacea magnus persicaria alba rudbeckia fulgida deamii gravel path

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden seating area sesleria aster crabapple corten steel concrete

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden sedum matrona echinacea magnus pennisetum fairy tails

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden verbena bonariensis echinacea magnus calamagrostic karl foerster perennials

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting phlomis russeliana calamagrostis karl foerster salvia amethyst sesleria autumnalis lawn

Contemporary hard materials in the main living spaces of the garden – including polished concrete seating terrace and corten steel edging – reinforce the agricultural character of the place.

Planting is naturalistic, with mixed native hedgerows to divide spaces, trees and herbaceous planting referencing the local landscape, and seasonal rhythms that echo the changes of the surrounding arable countryside.

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden verbena bonariensis echinacea magnus

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden sesleria autumnalis salvia nemorosa amethyst

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden aster little carlow corten steel planter

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting native hedge concrete terrace steps shadow gap detail corten steel edging crab apple trees oak tree lawn

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting native hedge concrete terrace corten steel edging sesleria autumnalis sedum matrona allium nigrum echinacea

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting corten steel edging sesleria autumnalis limestone gravel path allium nigrum echinacea crab apple tree

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden naturalistic planting phlomis russeliana calamagrostis karl foerster salvia amethyst rudbeckia persicaria allium sesleria autumnalis lawn gravel path greenhouse oak trees

Colm Joseph suffolk country garden orchard minimalist grass planting fruit trees miscanthus greenhouse native mixed hedge limestone gravel paths

The main living spaces transition into a kitchen garden with minimalist ornamental grass planting of miscanthus and fruit trees, a greenhouse and raised beds. Native hedges divide the garden spaces.

Beyond the kitchen garden, a native wildflower meadow creates a beautiful natural setting to take in views of the local landscape.

The wildflower meadow is interplanted with small hawthorn trees, left unclipped and wild to further emphasise a naturalistic feel. Mown grass pathways lead to relaxed seating areas and views of existing oak trees out to the Suffolk countryside beyond.