Selina Botham and Raven Housing Trust have won the Best Communal Garden and also scooped the top award for the "Garden of the Year - 2010".
The garden has made a big difference for all the residents at Douglas House in Horley. The garden is shared by the occupants of 27 new build sheltered apartments. Gardens are important for health and well-being and this garden has seasonal areas, together with sensory and wildlife features to enhance their living space all year round.
Project: Communal Garden for new build sheltered housing scheme
Location: Horley, Surrey
Client: Raven Housing Trust
Size approx 1,500m2
Aspect: Front, South and West. Back East and North
Soil: Imported neutral loam
Started: July 2009
Completed: October 2009
Cost: Approximately £100,000
Contractors: ROK with subcontractors.
THE BRIEF
Raven’s brief was for a ‘cutting edge’, low water garden to complement a new affordable sheltered scheme with 27 apartments. A tricky design challenge to be cutting edge and still create a garden that the elderly residents would enjoy. The narrow site sandwiched rather unpromisingly between the main railway line and the road to Horley town centre created an further design challenge.
Accessibility was important and also colour, seasonal interest and of course maintenance.
THE DESIGN
In the front garden the boundary hedge is rhythmically broken to allow glimpses of the soft flowing blue flowers within. Around the main terrace and water feature, verbena bonariensis and calamagrostis grasses give a soft semi -transparent feeling of enclosure. Punctuated with orange heleniums and achillea Walter Funke and bright golden achillea Gold Plate, the planting is bright and cheerful. A succession of beautiful bulbs transforms all areas during spring,
The garden adds outdoor ‘green’ living space, which compliments and connects with the building and has attracted a rich variety of wildlife for the residents to enjoy. Having access to quality green space creates health and well-being benefits for all the elderly residents.
Being involved with the residents and getting them planting their own spring bulbs was great too!
Comments
The use of the setts in the three lines around the paving looks very fine (it worked using the smaller sizes).
I also like the gangly Achillea - so often seemed to be classed as a bit of a weedy perennial but it works well in your scheme.
Excellent work Selina and well done with the award
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