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Driftwood backyard in Seaford has been visited by 23,000 guests, so far
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Geoff Stonebanks, designer of the award-winning Driftwood Backyard in East Sussex, has been busy reworking one other nook of his inspiring out of doors house. He talks us via his model new water function space, designed round drought-resistant vegetation that can scale back the period of time and pure sources required to maintain it wanting nice. The earlier than and after photographs are unimaginable!
The unique design
Geoff’s backyard earlier than the brand new makeover
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I’ve all the time beloved my backyard, particularly filling it stuffed with pots via the summer time months, portray the panorama with fairly flowers. Again within the autumn of 2021 (allowing for I’m quick approaching 70) I made a decision I needed to change the backyard with the intention to make it a lot simpler to take care of, however equally, to proceed to be of curiosity to the lots of of holiday makers who come and see it every year. With that as my transient, I set about making a sunken Mediterranean backyard with outdated railway sleepers, which has been an actual hit with the 700 guests who got here final summer time.
This yr, I made a decision I’d deal with the nook of the plot I’ve probably not made an influence on since shifting right here in 2004, apart from masking the realm with many containers across the small pond. You’ll be able to see that there was only a mass of greenery and color this summer time, however, as you may think about, 2022 particularly with the drought and hosepipe ban, it was extraordinarily troublesome preserving it wanting its greatest for guests.
Clearing the house
The house was cleared and the outdated pond stuffed in
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I sketched out the design I wished to create and the identical landscaper who translated my final challenge from drawing to actuality, was, fortunately, up for extra of the identical. So, as soon as the backyard had closed its gate for the 2022 season, I started to strip the realm, prepared for him and his staff to work their magic.
Day 1 of their labours started clearing among the particles I’d not been capable of take away, however in essence, all of the vegetation and objects I’d wished to retain had been rigorously positioned elsewhere, till the work was full. The outdated bench needed to go, because it was rusting away and the 5 trickle ponds had been eliminated.
Selecting onerous landscaping options
Laborious landscaping options turned the star of the present
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I made a decision to go for the wow-factor with objects, as there weren’t going to be as many vegetation within the completed challenge. My first buy was a tremendous curved corten metal wall, delivered from The Netherlands, carefully adopted by a stupendous, round, corten metal raised pond to switch the one I had stuffed in.
I used to be amazed how shortly the blokes created the construction for the realm however, sadly, work needed to be unfold out longer than we wished, due to the heavy rains on a number of days throughout the construct.
Utilizing paving slabs for cohesion
The identical paving slabs that had been used elsewhere within the backyard create a robust visible hyperlink
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By day 4, the corten metal wall had been put in and the adjoining brick partitions constructed and it actually began to take form. For continuity, I had determined upon one other small Indian sandstone circle to match the opposite two within the backyard. We had been all fairly stunned how large the realm regarded as soon as stripped of all of the outdated planting and lots of containers.
The brand new water function
The outdated fountain is fitted within the new water function
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By day 7, the ultimate day of the construct, the realm had been fully remodeled, together with a small set of latest steps to hyperlink the realm with the centre of the backyard. The backyard has all the time had a technique up and a technique down so motion of holiday makers will now be a lot simpler. The fountain that used to reside within the pond now seems resplendent within the new function.
Lights, motion, planting!
The backyard is illuminated at evening
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I bought some Nurseryman’s Alstroemeria Alternative Combine 6 Jumbo Plugs again in October from Thompson & Morgan that will probably be planted up within the space behind the dwarf partitions within the spring. Likewise, a Mangave Lavender Girl, bought from T&M final June, will adorn the realm via the summer time months.
Earlier than the massive freeze got here, I accomplished among the planting within the space, however the bulk will probably be performed subsequent spring. A stunning new gentle has been put in now too, casting a beautiful atmosphere throughout the patio at evening.
Planning a seating space
It’s vital to create calm vantage factors to take pleasure in totally different views
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One other new addition is a small metal gabion, that’s housing all the excess stones and slate that had been dotted across the backyard. I’m undecided, as but, whether or not to buy a cushion and use it as a seat, or just show succulents on it subsequent yr! Time will inform. The gorgeous Yucca Thompsoniana subsequent to it’s one other new buy for the realm. I’ve but to buy a brand new bench to take a seat alongside the shed, however that may wait till the New 12 months.
All in all, I’m extraordinarily happy with the completed product and as soon as all my succulents are transferred from their winter properties, subsequent Might, the realm will look fairly magical. Extra importantly, it will likely be a lot simpler to take care of, particularly if we have now a repeat of this summer time’s drought.
Learn extra about Geoff’s backyard at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk
Geoff Stonebanks was very fortunate to have the ability to retire early from 30 years in Royal Mail again in 2004. He had 3 totally different careers with them first as a caterer, then supervisor of a monetary evaluation staff and eventually as an Worker Relations Supervisor and Personnel Supervisor. He bought up and moved along with his associate to Bishopstone, close to Seaford in East Sussex in 2004 and now spends all his time gardening and fundraising for Macmillan Most cancers Help. Utilizing his multi award-winning backyard, featured on Gardeners’ World on BBC TV and finalist in Gardeners’ World Journal Backyard of the 12 months 2016, he’s raised £152,500 for varied charities in 11 years, £98,000 of that for Macmillan. In his spare time, he’s additionally Publicity Officer for the Nationwide Backyard Scheme in East & Mid Sussex.
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