When Natasha and Gary Jackson bought their home in Crawley, West Sussex, the back garden was long, narrow and neglected, with a concrete path sloping down the centre to a decrepit shed.
Natasha, an interior designer and TV and film props stylist recalls: ‘There was rickety fencing on either side, some horrible gravel, a scrappy bit of grass, and a few plants.
‘It needed a total redesign. We wanted it to feel wider, with different zones to make it much more interesting and inviting.’
The couple gathered ideas online and developed a new layout. Because the sun moves down the garden through the day, they decided on seating areas at either end, one on a sandstone patio and the other on timber decking.
A curved, shingle garden path sweeps from one side to the other, linking the two areas and highlighting the width of the plot.
‘We built a new summerhouse at the far end, and rounded raised beds on either side of the path,’ says Natasha.
‘The large central one is lawn, and we’ve packed the others with low-maintenance trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.’
With the budget in mind, Natasha and Gary salvaged the few usable plants and, apart from laying the patio, they tackled all the restructuring and planting themselves.
Given the garden’s incline, it was a challenge to get the raised areas perfectly flat and at the correct heights, but working with spades and spirit levels they achieved their aim.
‘It took us a long time, but we’re absolutely delighted with how it’s turned out,’ says Natasha. Now a place for both herself and Gary, plus Lilly the cat and Harry the chocolate lab to enjoy, the garden is everything they wished for.
‘The planting feels lush and there’s colour from early spring right through the year. There’s a bit of weeding and mowing, but the garden largely takes care of itself, so we can relax over lunch on the patio, and enjoy the evening sun on the decking.’
Take the tour of Natasha and Gary's garden
Bliss rainbow water feature, £1,400, Foras
The gentle sound of water from the couple's water feature creates a relaxing vibe around the patio.
Try Fossil mint Indian sandstone paving, £27sq m, Primethorpe Paving
The buff-coloured sandstone gives the patio a warm, rustic texture, contrasting with Mediterranean-style white raised beds. Natasha and Gary saved spring bulbs, lilies and a large hydrangea from the existing garden.
‘We still spent quite a bit on plants to start with, but there are a lot of self-seeders, like poppies and foxgloves, and perennials that come back each year,’ says Natasha.
Summerhouse painted in Ronseal’s Sage matt exterior wood paint, £22 for 9ltr, B&Q
Gary designed and built the summerhouse. ‘A standard summerhouse wouldn’t have fitted as it’s quite an awkward space,’ says Natasha. ‘The decking was constructed from salvaged scaffolding planks, making it very affordable, too.'
Gary built the raised beds from railway sleepers, making it easier to achieve smooth curves.
The flowers in Natasha's garden
The raised lawn was built up with earth dug out during the landscaping. Natasha and Gary used temporary spray paint and string to mark out the shape.
‘I scattered masses of crocus bulbs before the turf went down, so there’s colour in January,’ says Natasha.
Get the look
