From bare ground to a garden ready to grow

If you’ve followed along for a while, you’ll know I’m not always the most consistent with updates and blog posts (a mild understatement, perhaps!). But if you’re new here, a big welcome.

Life has been busy in all the usual ways (the good, the bad and the messy), but I’m very happy to share that a recent project has now reached a really exciting stage: the garden is built.

What was once a blank slate, crumbling concrete slabs, patchy grass and overgrown shrubs, has been completely transformed. While the planting is still to come in many of the borders, the structure, layout and hard landscaping are all in place and the garden is already beginning to settle in.

A glimpse of the overall design (current landscaping works focussing on the areas surrounding the house).

This is one of those lovely projects that began from scratch. We began, as I always do, by thinking about how the garden should feel, flow and function.

Now that the space has taken shape, we can walk through it and see the design working just as intended. Here's how the garden is laid out:

• A Casual Seating Area - Tucked into a gently shaded corner, perfect for reading or sharing a drink as the sun goes down.

  
  

• An Outdoor Dining Area & Kitchen - Surrounded by soft structural planting and multi-stem trees, this space is designed for slow alfresco meals and easy entertaining.

  
  

• A Wood-Fired Hot Tub Terrace - Built into a raised terrace with wide steps leading up, this space already feels like a retreat, a place to unwind after a busy day.

  
  

• Pétanque Court - Yes, we’ve added a little French flair! This low-maintenance, fun space works beautifully with the flow of the garden and adds a social, playful element.

  
  

• Large Front Borders- While still awaiting their plants and trees, the structure is there, generous beds that frame the house and will, in time, soften the architecture and welcome visitors.

  
  

• Soft Paths & Natural Connection - Each space flows gently into the next, with pathways and transitions that feel calm and cohesive, allowing the garden to be explored at a relaxed pace.

Captured a few weeks ago, a useful reminder of just how much work goes into building a garden!

The heavy lifting is done. Hard landscaping is complete, terraces are down and the structure is in place. The garden feels like itself now, even before the planting has gone in.

Standing in it, you get a real sense of how each part will work together: spaces for gathering, relaxing, playing, and simply being. And the borders, though currently bare, are full of promise for next year.

Thinking About Your Own Garden?

If you’re planning a change to your outdoor space, my advice is always the same: don’t just start with the plants, start with how you really want to use the space. Think about the feeling you want when you step outside. Everything else can grow from there.

I’ll be sharing more updates, including planting progress and seasonal changes, over on Instagram and Facebook: @eleanorvictoriagardendesign.

And if you're considering your own garden transformation, feel free to get in touch. I’d love to hear about your space and help you shape something beautiful from the ground up.

All the best, E