Community Garden
Client: The Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, Mill Hill
Brief: We were selected to design the large gardens of the UK Provincial House. The gardens were not only for the benefit of the resident nuns but also for the wider community of visitors. The emphasis on the brief was for a garden that felt contemplative and natural, and for better integration of areas across two separate properties. There was also a need to provide a large terrace for community events.
Design Solution: This sloping site benefits from a large terrace bordered with raised brick planters and wooden seating.
The upper terrace links to the lower water feature garden via a paved ramp for wheelchair access. The plummy colour of the Acers complements the purple tones in the slate and unites the scheme.
The Rose Garden in year one. The roses planted include ‘Remember Me’, ‘Peace’, ‘Tickled Pink’, and ‘Iceberg’.
The sandstone statue of St Louise had been renovated, cleaned and moved from the old site. She was positioned as a key focal point and an evergreen Yew hedge planted behind to (eventually) provide a dark backdrop.
The 14 Stations of The Cross were made from natural pieces of slate each engraved with simple words. A winding pathway through woodland takes you on the spiritual journey, with planting kept simple, initially with woodland ferns and bulbs.
