It is rare that you encounter such an ambitious new build project and garden design in the Dorset countryside. Despite the grandeur of this house, our client wanted us to create a minimal maintenance naturalistic garden in keeping with its pastoral surrounding. The house is approached through woodland to the north. To the southwest, you are met with far-reaching views over the Cranborne Chase ANOB. The challenge was to create a sense of enclosure and protection from the prevailing winds, without obscuring the view. We created a generous terrace, bracketed on each side with billowing cloud hedges. Large, clipped shapes and topiary were used to create reference points in the landscape and echo the passing cumulus clouds.

The woodland was adapted to create seasonal moments of drama while maintaining its natural feel. We wanted to heighten the contrast between the north and south aspects of the house, creating a greater sense of drama when the full extent of the view is revealed, as you journey through the house onto the southern terrace. One of our greatest successes was the establishment of a wildflower meadow. The thin chalky soils lent themselves to the replacement of parts of the lawn with a diverse mixture of chalk downland plants.