A contemporary courtyard garden in Leyton, East London
Garden size: 50m2
Project value: £15,000
Garden aspect: North-west
Landscaper: Growing Gardens
Build completed: Summer 2024
Our client Fahad was looking for a garden that he could relax and entertain in, that was largely low maintenance as he’s a novice gardener, and would provide an enjoyable “commute” to the future garden office that will be constructed at the end of the garden.
This narrow garden was divided length-wise when this Victorian end-of-terrace house was divided into two flats. The garden measures just 2.5m wide, so even with a blank canvas would face design restraints.
Before we had a blank canvas, the garden was cleared of overgrown shrubs and congested ivy, which made the space much darker, cramped and mostly unusable.
The garden was then zoned into three different areas: a spot for morning coffee by the back door which catches the morning light, a dining and entertaining space in the centre of the garden, framed by two crab apple trees, and an area reserved at the back of the garden for the future studio.
A buff coloured porcelain and Cotswold gravel has been used to reflect light, brightening even some of the most cramped spaces where there is little direct sun. Venetian fencing has been introduced to clad a party wall with the local school, and new fencing introduced around the rest of the garden, replacing the hip-height chicken wire fence that was there previously, providing privacy.
Planting has been used to make the most impact in the small space, with the apple trees helping to zone the garden and break up overlooked views in from neighbours. Planting has been squeezed in wherever possible, with ground cover plants tucked in between stepping stones set into the gravel. Evergreen star jasmine clads the fences, creating vertical interest and clothing boundaries year round, as well as filling the garden with scent in summer.
Our client, Fahad, says: ‘I am extremely pleased with how my garden turned out and the work Shaun and his team put into it. From our first meeting, Shaun understood what I wanted (and what I didn’t want) and expertly guided me through what would work best given my budget and requirements. The extra touches such as incorporating my favourite colours really makes such a difference. The passion Shaun has for his work really shows, and he’s been incredibly helpful in following up on maintenance. The garden was originally quite the jungle, so having the extra space to lounge and socialise in has made summer so much more enjoyable. I’m quite time-poor, so having Shaun take care of much of the admin and liaise with the landscapers was extremely helpful. I’ve had so many compliments on the garden since the work has been completed, and I’m excited to see how it will continue to grow and turn out! Thanks Shaun!’
