Sweeping Sculpture Garden – Malmesbury, Wiltshire

A tired and plain garden with a few trees on the boundary and the unusual yet handsome sculptural timber horses without a defined home. Due to our client spending a lot of time at home both relaxing and working with clients popping in, a key requirement was to create views and focal points from certain windows and doors. The narrow shape of the garden and position of the sun didn’t warrant having a large terrace immediately adjacent to the house.

Sculptural horses gracefully grazing.
Sculptural horses gracefully grazing.
Beautiful dandeline Corten steel screens edging this welcoming terrace.
Beautiful dandeline Corten steel screens edging this welcoming terrace.

Our design brought in a meandering flow to the lawn allowing for shrub borders to be created to add interest to the boundary. A home was found for the horses beneath the existing silver birch tree and amongst a border of long grasses to give the impression of horses grazing in a meadow. The main entertaining terrace was sited to make the best use of the sun throughout the day and evening. This was edged with Corten steel decorative feature panels giving an attractive and interesting backdrop to the terrace. A sweeping cobblestone pathway connected the various seating areas back to the house. Recycled garden sleepers were set vertically and randomly through a plant border to be used as plinths for the client’s smaller sculptural pieces all of which were carefully positioned to be enjoyed from various windows of the house.

Cobblestone border softened by considered planting.
Cobblestone border softened by considered planting.
Sweeping borders creating subtle movement through the garden.
Sweeping borders creating subtle movement through the garden.
Contemporary timber screening with feature Acer tree.
Contemporary timber screening with feature Acer tree.
Contrasting paving textures subtly defining routes and simplistic natural planting enhancing the grazing horses.
CGI - A view to enjoy of the sun setting within the natural area at the end of the garden.
Recycled aged Oak sleepers providing a plinth for sculptural features.
Recycled aged Oak sleepers providing a plinth for sculptural features.