Essex Garden

The proposal for the garden has a split personality that exploits the existing character and manipulates space to good advantage without losing the essence of the site. The garden is divided into a series of long rectangular spaces defined by formally clipped hawthorn hedges. These long compartments give emphasis to the width of the garden but also connect the various structures and routes through the site. As one moves towards the end of the garden and out into the willow plantation the sense of order and formality reduces to merge the garden with the wider landscape. Progress is therefore delivered in a tangible form in terms of circulatory routes through the garden but also in a more subtle way as one emerges from the landscape into a formalised garden. Even in the more formal areas materials and planting retain a simplicity that retains the essence of a country garden. Hawthorn hedging, bulb. wild meadow or verge planting typify much of the planting with only select areas delivered in a more ornamental form.