the place

the brief

To transform a back garden that is the owner's pride, joy and escape. To craft a garden that's relaxed, contemporary and plant centric; transitioning from more formal planting and styling close to the house, to a more informal arrangement as you pass through the garden.

Lawns to play, space to grow food and hidden nooks are all part of the brief - in a florescent garden of year round interest where the owners can kick back after a hard day's work and take in the natural beauty of the North Downs.

As the name Woodley suggests, this place was once a woodland clearing that has gradually made way for mid-century housing in a Reading suburb, on the edge of the upper Thames and the North Downs.

a garden that quietly persuades you to stay.

the site

A 30 by 14 metre south west facing back garden, with 4m patio. On clay soil, shaded at the bottom end and dry baked in summer close to house; with a slight change in level, left to right, rising as you look down the garden.

concept

Through a sequence of gentle crossings, a world of contemporary suburban living slowly gives way to the enduring character of woodland, revealed through a series of garden clearings. Each step draws you further from the outside world, opening into places of gathering and retreat, with sunlit glades, richly layered planting, and secluded corners to hide away.

the design

Time slows in Lingerwood. Hours pass almost unnoticed, marked by shifting light, birdsong and the changing seasons. Each destination offers another reason to dwell: to garden, to share with others or simply to relax in peace. The greatest luxury of Lingerwood is a feeling - that there's nowhere else you'd rather be.

the details

project status

July 2026 - Concept signed off and now in detailed design

Lightenfield Lane, Netherton, HD47DT

Tel: 07352454826

patterned earth Landscape and Garden Design Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Company number: 16438986.

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