Garden landscaping ideas

Garden landscaping ideas how to plan and create your perfect garden

Re-designing your garden is an exciting prospect. Do you wish you had somewhere to sit, relax, entertain or let the children play? Maybe you are just a little bored and want a garden design that is more colourful, varied or maintenance friendly. Garden landscaping is the ideal way to craft an attractive space to grow plants that give you a beautiful environment and design a practical layout that allows you to use your garden how you want.

But where do you start? Take a look at our answers to common garden landscaping questions; whether its planning and budgeting, resourcing and building or aesthetic planting, our guide holds the key to the garden landscaping design of your dreams.

How do I start my garden design?

Landscaping ideas start with good research. Take inspiration by visiting garden centres, public gardens, annual garden shows, even other people’s houses to get a feel of what is to your taste. Take into account your garden size and think about what you need your garden to do for you. Then, take to the drawing board to sketch your ideas and make mood boards from magazines and Pinterest of your dream garden landscape.

Elements to consider when first planning garden landscaping ideas

Walls and boundaries Hedges and fences Paths and patios Lawns Water features Zoning areas (dining, playing, shading) Planting: trees, shrubs, pots Lighting Out-buildings

22 Next consider your plot. Look at the size and shape and take into consideration the direction if faces, the style of your house it will be framing and the surrounding area. Achieving balance is a strong aspect of good garden design; pay equal attention to all areas and remember that plants and shrubs will change size and shape throughout the seasons.

Do you prefer formal or informal gardens? Formal gardens tend to be tidy and geometric with lots of straight lines and clipped hedges, whereas informal gardens are made up of organic curves and planting is much more relaxed.

Soften a sloping garden with grass steps

If your garden is on different levels but you’re not keen on hard landscaping severely breaking things up take inspiration from this garden we saw in North Bristol. Instead of incorporating stone steps, They used grass treads, integrating them into the existing lawn to connect the lower patio to the small sun terrace above. Creating a softer approach to the flow, seamlessly journeying from one space to the other.

Pave the way

The trend for creating garden zones is hugely popular, meaning the need for having a garden path is great. A link that unites the different areas is not only highly practical, it can also be visually appealing as this example demonstrates. Without a pathway you’ll soon find that you tread an unsightly channel into the lawn – which will ruin all your hard work with the overall garden aesthetic.

While the best time to redesign your space is in winter when plants are dormant, looking at it in summer gives you the chance to really understand how you use the space. Or if you just want to add new surfaces, you can do so now and reap the rewards this summer.

Either way enjoys your garden

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South Gloucestershire Council has successfully bid for £135,000

South Gloucestershire Council has successfully bid for £135,000 of Government funding to install up to six new fully accessible toilets in locations across the area that will feature a host of extra facilities for disabled people and those who need them the most. The funding, announced in March, will be used to provide new accessible Changing Places Toilets in locations around South Gloucestershire for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. The facilities will include special equipment such as hoists, curtains and adult-sized changing benches, and will feature more space than standard accessible toilets to accommodate carers.

The Changes Places Toilets will be delivered with support from Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK). Locations that will host the new facilities include Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood, Page Park in Staple Hill and both Bradley Stoke and Yate Active Centres, plus a further two toilets in Yate and Kingswood with locations to be announced.

These facilities will offer much improved opportunities for everyday activities and days out for users and their families in South Gloucestershire. They will also open up our well-loved public and open spaces to more people who currently are unable to enjoy them due to the current facilities not meeting everyone’s needs. Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “I’m delighted that our bid for Government funding to deliver additional Changing Places Toilets in South Gloucestershire has been successful. Changing Places Toilets make a real difference to users and their families enabling them to take part in more recreational activities with dignity, confidence and freedom. “South Gloucestershire currently has seven of these facilities, but they are spread unevenly across the area. This additional funding will enable us to add up to six more across the area and ensure they are provided in the key locations that people wish to visit.”

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall said: “Everybody deserves to have easy access and a safe and comfortable facilities, and I am delighted South Gloucestershire Council has secured this funding. I will be supporting the Council to deliver these new toilets for the community as quickly as possible.” Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore said: “I am so pleased that the Council’s bid for funding for the installation of further Changing Places Toilets has been successful and that such a facility will be put in place at Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood, as part of up to six further locations around South Gloucestershire. I am well aware of how important these facilities are so that every one of our local residents, regardless of their access needs, can use a toilet facility hygienically and with dignity.” Circadian Trust Chief Executive Mark Crutchley said: “We are so very pleased to have secured this funding bid in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council. Being able to offer more accessible facilities to Active Centre customers who need them means we can deliver better access to existing and new services to help and inspire active healthy lifestyles to our community. “We can’t wait to get on installing the new changing facilities and equipment and look forward to announcing that they are open shortly!” A second round of applications is also expected in the future which will provide a further opportunity to bid for additional facilities.

Method

Slice the peaches into thick wedges

Arrange on a griddle pan over a high heat

Cook for 3-4 mins, until lightly charred

Put half the slices in a blender, along with 200ml of the Rosé and blend until smooth

Strain through a sieve, pressing down with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible

Pour the remaining 550ml rosé into a tall jug before adding the peach mixture, along with 100ml white rum, 50ml orange liqueur, the remaining peach wedges, 1 lime, cut into wedges, 3 mint sprigs and plenty of ice

Stir well before serving

*2.1 alcohol units per glass

Ingredients

2 large peaches Shiraz Rosé 100ml white rum 50ml orange liqueur 1 lime, cut into wedges 3 mint sprigs Ice