Soft Landscaping

I’m an ambassador for @rethinkmentalillness and I wanted to share a tiny snippet of my own experience to help draw attention to mental illness specifically, rather than the wider mental health conversation.

It is something that’s so hard for people to understand unless they have lived experience themselves or through family and friends.

It is a different situation to general mental health, as severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, can have very challenging consequences for people in their everyday lives.

Remember to just be a kind and patient person to everyone you meet, as you never know what’s going on behind the scenes. ❤️

P.s I know this post is a day late but its important to talk about regardless 🙌 ...

People always make the same mistake with garden lighting…

So many gardens have too many lights that are often too bright as well. Subtlety is key!

This garden that we designed in Bristol uses @inlite_global lights from @landscapeplus_uk - which have a lot of options to get a lovely soft lighting scheme like this. I always try and design lighting so you’re not staring at a direct light source.

You can do this by facing things away from the house, using anti glare filters, or disguising the light source in planting. That way you get a soft glow instead!

Installed by @benjaminrichardpope 🙌

Sway lights floating through the planting

Lovely view back across the garden with Sway lights, LED strip on the bench and a wash across the gravel from Ace Low lights.

Simple Wedge wall lights to mark the steps

Sway lights and the Ace low giving a nice wash across the ground

What a garden!

Ace low light nestled amongst the planting ...

Small garden, BIG impact

The garden is split into three distinct ‘rooms’ split across two levels. Coffee spot at the top, dining in the middle, and lounging at the bottom!

Designed and planted by my company Greenbook Landscape Design and built by @benjaminrichardpope 💪

Some awesome details in this garden that have been built beautifully.

Will share some more pics including the lighting on another post soon 🤟

The best photos by my good friend @aspectlandscapemedia 📸. Go and hit him up if you need anything shooting!

A simple Corten water table breaks up the garden and nestled amongst some very textural planting!

Say what you like about Phormiums (@garden_ninja_lee I’m looking at you 👀), but Platts Black is one of my favourites and adds such good contrast here.

Sneaky @inlite_global lights tucked into the scheme too. 🙌 @landscapeplus_uk

One of my favourite details is how the decking step seamlessly becomes the bench seat for the dining table.

A lot of work went into putting a planter in this raised decking but it is totally worth it to bring planting close to the house!

Well done @benjaminrichardpope as I know it’s not as easy as it looks 😂

Who doesn’t love a top down view? Shows the proportions perfectly 👌.

A mini oasis amongst many empty looking terraced gardens!

The planting was only done in June this year, so give it time and it will all come on even more. Amazed it’s done this well with this summer!

Also I know some people wait a couple years before photographing gardens, but who’s got the patience?! It looks great so it’s getting put out there 😂 ...