Services used
Hard Landscaping, Water Features, Irrigation, Garden Lighting, Rainwater Harvesting, Driveways, Soft Landscaping
Project
Transforming a West Sussex Garden: Elegant, Symmetrical, and Wildlife-Friendly
Duration
5 months
Location
West Sussex
When we first visited this expansive West Sussex property, the garden was overgrown and challenging: derelict outbuildings, tired greenhouses, and a towering Leylandii hedge obscuring the rear boundary. Our client wanted a formal, symmetrical garden that combined classical elegance with practical, wildlife-friendly features – and we delivered a stunning transformation.
Key Features of Our Garden Design
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Formal Symmetry and Layout: At the heart of the garden, we created a spacious sandstone terrace, perfect for dining and entertaining. A central path guides the eye through a grand pergola to a dramatic 1.5-tonne drilled boulder set within a reflective pool, supplied by Timecircles, creating a striking focal point.
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Wildlife-Friendly Spaces: At the rear, we designed a secluded area featuring a wildflower meadow, mown grass paths, and copper beech hedging. This naturalistic space provides a habitat for local wildlife while maintaining the garden’s formal elegance.
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Sustainable Irrigation: The garden is supported by a fully automated irrigation system fed by a Graff underground rainwater harvesting tank connected to the house guttering, ensuring eco-friendly, chemical-free watering year-round.
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Evening Ambiance with Lighting: Hunza fittings, controlled via a smart device, highlight the garden’s geometry, water features, and planting. The lighting creates atmosphere, enhances usability after dark, and showcases the garden’s architectural lines.
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Enhanced Front Approach: We also transformed the front of the property with a new gravel driveway laid in Nidagravel stabilisation trays, complemented by fresh lawns and planting, creating a welcoming and practical entrance.
Client: Mr and Mrs N
Designer: Atlantes Landscapes
Contractor: Atlantes Landscapes
PROJECT GALLERY
How Can a Garden Be Wildlife-Friendly?
A wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t mean sacrificing design, it’s about making thoughtful choices that bring biodiversity and beauty together. By combining natural habitats with structured landscaping, we can create outdoor spaces that not only look stunning but also support birds, insects, and other native species.
At Atlantes Landscapes, we often recommend:
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Native Plants: Local species are perfectly adapted to the climate and provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and small mammals.
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Wildflower Meadows: These add seasonal colour and create vital habitats for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
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Varied Habitats: Log piles, hedgerows, and layered planting schemes encourage a wide range of wildlife to thrive.
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Water Features: Ponds, reflective pools, or gently bubbling fountains offer drinking sources for birds and habitats for amphibians and aquatic insects.
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Eco-Friendly Practices: Using rainwater harvesting, organic mulch, and chemical-free care keeps the environment safe and sustainable.
The key is balance: a garden can be both elegant and wildlife-friendly. Careful design ensures that natural spaces work seamlessly alongside formal lawns, terraces, or pathways, so you enjoy a garden that feels alive while remaining practical and refined.
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