This garden was created at a brand new house in Kent. The garden had been the site of the builders' services and there was a large amount of rubble under the surface of the ground. The site sloped steeply toward the house and the client wanted a low maintenance garden with somewhere to sit.

It was decided to retain the bank and to use bark with random planting of shrubs and trees for low maintenance. If the present owner decides to move house and the bark is unacceptable to prospective purchasers, removal of the bark and turfing the area is a simple job.

There are two seating areas, one on the large deck adjacent to the sitting room and one on a gravel circle at a higher level. Lavender plants have been used to edge the bank and surround the upper seating area. The original plan suggested a summer house or pergola at the higher end but this fell outside the initial budget and may be introduced later.

A horror story! The end of garden of this terraced house in West London had been neglected and the new owners wanted it to be cleared and a raised deck constructed for dining and relaxation. We dismantled and removed the shed, old fencing and other accumulated rubbish to skips - all rubbish had to be moved carefully through the house. A high sycamore tree, whose roots were destabilising the wall needed to be felled and its root which was wound around some ancient metal and wire had to be dug out by hand.

The same garden after we had finished - the beautiful old brick wall was exposed and the deck was deemed a huge success.

This small town garden was created after the builders had left – leaving most of their rubbish! The brief was for a sitting area and some interesting levels making a feature of the magnificent oak tree.

A raised vegetable bed was incorporated as our client enjoys growing herbs and salad leaves – this year tomatoes, herbs, chillies, artichokes, onions and salad leaves were raised in this small area.

Our client, who has some mobility problems, wanted to be able to walk around her out door space at this cottage in Kent she has a busy life and wanted the serenity of an oriental garden with a modern-minimalist twist and very low maintenance.

At work during the day, our client wanted the garden to be seen and used during the evening and so the deck walkways are lit from below at night. Planting was minimal with three acers for colour, a wall of bamboo and a triangular bed filled with arum lilies, pots can be varied for all year round interest.

Pathways – just two examples - firstly, a classic York stone path using rectangular re-claimed stones with wide gravel gaps between the slabs. For this client we planted small creeping plants in the gravel which smell wonderful when stepped on, more conventionally, the slabs are laid closer together with a dry mix filling and no planting.