A Front Garden Transformation: From Car Park to Country Garden, in Market Bosworth

Our client contacted us in April 2022 with an unusual garden – 90% of it was at the front of the house. They wanted to transform this front garden space from what was mostly a bare, utilitarian car park into a relaxing space with traditional country charm. They wanted a more welcoming entrance, enhanced kerb appeal and a better first impression of their home.

Key requests included:

• A smaller gravel drive next to the garage, with room to turn, and new taller electric gates for privacy and added impact.
• A classic, formal garden area to frame the approach to the front door.
• Lawns and varied planting beds with favourite plants such as Acers, Lavender, Roses and Echinacea.
• An upgraded vegetable garden.
• Solutions for drainage issues caused by clay soil, water runoff, and a below-ground septic tank.
• Practical features like screened bin storage, a wood store, compost bins and water butts.
• Dog-friendly, wildlife-friendly planting that’s easy to maintain with some gardening help.

We created a design that balances elegance, practicality and the homeowner’s love for gardening. Here’s how we addressed the brief:

• Enhanced Entrance: We designed a smaller, more defined gravel drive that leads gracefully to the garage with space to turn. Taller electric gates and surrounding planting now create an eye-catching entrance with enhanced privacy.
• Formal Front Garden: We reduced the parking area to make room for classic lawns, hedges and formal planting beds. A winding path of recycled blue paviors leads to the front door and is framed by a timber arch. The varied planting features the requested favourites, with repeat planting for cohesion and a mix of textures to avoid large blocks of single species.
• Breakfast Area: A sunny breakfast spot was carefully positioned to make the most of the morning light, framed by soft planting for privacy.
• Greenhouse and Veg Patch: The retaining wall behind the greenhouse was rebuilt with integral cold frames. The vegetable beds were refreshed and relocated to improve their usability.
• Drainage and Practicalities: We incorporated drainage solutions into the gravel drive to manage water runoff, ensuring the garden remains functional in wet conditions. Essential features like bin storage, a wood store and water butts were seamlessly integrated into the layout. Access to the septic tank is now cleverly hidden under a composite deck beneath the timber pergola, allowing the space to be used throughout the year.

The final design delivers the wow factor our client wanted while maintaining a practical, dog-friendly and wildlife-supporting space to enjoy daily.

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