Wimbledon Park front garden

A front garden and parking area in Wimbledon. The client's son was coming to driving age and so space for another car was needed. We stripped out the old lawn (which never did that well in the shade of the old oak tree anyway) and added masses of extra planting and extra parking space. The proximity of a magnificent mature oak meant we used permeable gravel-grid so as to allow water to penetrate to the roots of the tree.
It is vital to our ethos that we leave a place better than it was when we found it. We respect existing mature trees as the essential habitats they are for local bio-diversity. The walled garden created a microclimate ideal for tree ferns and other shade loving species.
The exposed bed along the house, utilising the heat sink of the building, was great for more sun loving exotic plants.
Years later and kids have moved out but the garden and tree are still thriving!