Projects

Part of the reason I've had the confidence to make this career change is through achieving big changes in my own garden. I'm fortunate to have moved into a house with a large garden, and am starting my own transformation.

My own garden: a courtyard garden

Grass wouldn't grow on the barren space at the top, because it was previously paved and the ground beneath was brick, rubble and clinker. With so much waste to dispose of, we decided to go with four large raised planters, where we could dispose of most of the rubble to minimise waste.

From rubble to raised planters

The barren, rubble-based space before work began, with tools and marker canes on dry ground — Before (September 2026)

The same view after the work: four raised timber planters around a central patio on new turf — After (November 2026)

After mulling a few designs, we settled on L-shaped planters with a central patio as a seating area, so that this would become a ‘courtyard garden’, with a path running around three sides and a hedge on the other side. As an additional flourish, we decided to plant four fruit trees along that edge.

Hand-drawn layout sketch of four L-shaped planters around a central circular patio — The layout sketch: four L-shaped planters around a central patio

Granite blocks and string lines marking out the planters on the lawn, with two people on site in the background — Laying out the design and blockwork to support the planters (September 2026)

The project has been vast, and I've needed significant help along the way. The hard landscaping (central patio and planters) was done by a contractor I trust highly, then there was an army of friends who ‘volunteered’ to help shift 20 tonnes of topsoil to replace the rubble where we were laying the new lawn.

A man measuring with a tape beside a half-built timber planter, with the stone patio and a second person in the background — Contractor Joe marking out the planters

Young fruit trees and small hedge plants set into freshly spread soil, with the raised planters behind — Fruit trees and young hedge plants going in (November 2026)

A new zone for the garden

Bare, patchy ground in front of the shed before the planters were built — Before (September 2026)

The same view after the work, with raised planters, a stone patio, new turf and young fruit trees — After (November 2026)

A big part of using outdoor space effectively is breaking the garden into different zones, in a similar way to an architect designing a house. This new courtyard will offer a space for adults to relax and enjoy the plants, alongside children playing sports and games.

We're so proud of the results so far, and can't wait to start planting in the spring to really bring the space to life!

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