Changes in operations at this fruit farm presented an exciting chance to work with the land to enable the farm to flourish in a different way.

The wider landscape already contained a diverse range of habitats, from a river and lake to native hedgerows and seasonally wet areas. Building on this existing network there were many opportunities to create new biodiverse spaces and to educate visitors, and to manage flooding through a gentle approach to river restoration.

The landscape design for the farmstead itself is inspired by its surroundings: the natural meanders of the river, the local flora, the productivity of the land and the beauty and simplicity of agricultural materials.

The brief was to create a garden of harmony, a haven for friends and family, linking the family houses. Areas of abundant planting are in tune with the landscape, and a walled garden creates space for entertaining, cooking and productivity. The whole is designed to feel rural and understated, a warm and welcoming farmstead.