A Hampshire Heathland Reclamation

Hampshire

A five-acre garden in Hampshire, created for an artistic family who wanted a garden that would provide inspiration, relaxation and discovery. The site already had extraordinary features including specimen Maples, mature Beech and Oak, a natural Birch glade and a hidden valley.

The garden has been designed to feel like it has always been there, as though the landscape simply grew into itself over time. Long views draw the eye across the full sweep of the grounds, while winding paths invite you to slow down and explore at your own pace, with something new to discover around every corner.

The garden now flows from a sunny upper terrace down through the grounds to a fire pit and den tucked into the valley below, with a pool house and infinity pool perfectly placed to make the most of the view. Planting is naturalistic and seasonal, with tall Italian Cypress rising through it to give the whole garden a sense of height and drama.

A drawn cross-section through the valley, showing the new steps and paths — Valley section, made accessible with new steps and meandering paths

A stone terrace beside the house, with a narrow rill running away downhill — The house and main terrace, with the rill falling away into the pool below

Broad concrete steps descending through heathland grasses and shrubs — Wide concrete steps provide a gentle route down to the heathland

An infinity pool set into heathland planting, open to the valley beyond — The infinity pool, surrounded by heathland planting and taking in the valley view

A circular fire pit in a woodland clearing, enclosed by trees — The fire pit and den, tucked into the woodland clearing