Rich, textural drought tolerant planting was used in this Suffolk seaside town garden to create a sustainable planting scheme that can cope with the high salty winds, low rainfall and sandy soil.   My clients were keen to use plants with interesting texture and foliage colour to hold the interest throughout the year with flowers taking a second stage.

In the front garden a rich tapestry of plants is used to provide strong visual interest from the front windows and a diaphanous screen from passersby.  Whilst the tall vertical stems of Calamagrostis x acutiflora Karl Foerster reflect the lines of the cladding of the new house and guide guests to the front door.

In the back garden recycled York Stone slabs interspersed with creeping thyme and ground cover are used as stepping stones from the deck to two separate seating areas.  Pleached Sorbus x intermedia Brouwers trees, which can cope with strong salty winds, provide privacy from neighbouring cottages as well as spring flowers and colourful red/orange berries.

It is wonderful that this garden was awarded the inaugural Beth Chatto SGD Award 2020. The judges said:

‘A well laid out, practically designed garden showing the considered use of locally sourced materials and a well-chosen palette of drought-tolerant plants and contrasting foliage, thoughtfully laid out. This garden perfectly reflects its coastal location and is certainly a garden that would have met with Beth’s approval, a worthy winner of the inaugural Beth Chatto Award.’

Photos copyright Marianne Majerus & Sue Townsend