Twickenham courtyard garden design

The owners of this Twickenham courtyard were keen to have a garden that was attractive to birds and also made a feature of the much-loved topiaried laurel, whilst keeping as much floor space as possible. The uneven concrete paving was replaced with a smooth, light grey granite, which we also used to clad the raised border walls and to lay as granite setts around the base of the laurel, giving the topiary its own quiet moment within the wider space.

Wildlife was designed in from the start rather than added as an afterthought. A bird box and bird bath sit close to the existing planting, and two bug hotels are tucked into the borders, all positioned to be seen and enjoyed from the dining room and sitting room without interrupting the clean lines of the paving. Practical elements — a drain, a recessed manhole cover and a compost bin — are worked into the layout so they do their job without drawing the eye.

Planting was kept generous around the perimeter, softening the reclaimed brick and pale granite walls with Dryopteris wallichiana, Geranium Rozanne, herbs and climbing Trachelospermum jasminoides, while the centre of the garden was left open for a dining table and chairs. The result is a garden that feels settled and mature rather than newly built, with the old walls doing as much work as the new planting to give the space its character.

Plain paved walled garden with a single shrub and bare brick walls before redesign The garden before its transformation, showing tired paving, a lone shrub and bare brick walls prior to the new planting, paving and bird-friendly features.
Scaled concept plan of a bird-friendly walled Twickenham garden showing dining area, planting and wildlife features Concept plan (scale 1:48) for a bird-friendly walled garden in Twickenham, showing granite paving and setts, a dining table and chair
Aerial view of a walled Twickenham garden with granite paving, clipped box and mature brick walls Looking down over this walled Twickenham garden reveals the full layout: granite paving threads between a clipped box ball, ferns and a birdbath, with
Two black metal garden chairs on granite paving beside ferns and a stone birdbath A pair of black metal garden chairs sit on honed granite paving in a quiet corner of the garden, surrounded by ferns, roses and a stone birdbath tucked against the rec
A wooden bird box mounted on an ivy-covered stone wall A simple wooden bird box is fixed to the old stone wall beneath a canopy of variegated ivy, encouraging nesting birds into this wildlife-friendly Twickenham garden.
A stone birdbath surrounded by grasses and climbing jasmine against a brick wall A weathered stone birdbath sits among ornamental grasses and climbing star jasmine, one of several features designed to bring birds and other wildlife into this compact
Lush green fern fronds in a shaded garden border A lush fern unfurls its fronds in a shaded corner of the garden, adding texture and a woodland feel beneath the mature planting.
Purple geranium flowers spilling over a granite raised border Vivid purple hardy geraniums spill over the edge of a granite raised border, bringing long-lasting summer colour to the planting scheme.
A granite raised border planted with purple geraniums and daisies against old brick walls A granite raised bed lifts the planting to eye level, with purple geraniums and daisies softening the base of the garden's weathered brick boundary walls.
A herb border with rosemary, oregano and chives against a brick wall A productive herb border combines rosemary, oregano and chives against the warm brick wall, giving the garden a practical, kitchen-garden edge alongside the ornamental planting.
Close-up of a stone birdbath with a smooth pebble resting on its rim A close view of the stone birdbath shows a smooth pebble perched on the rim, giving smaller birds and insects a safe landing spot beside the water.
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Communal and Private Gardens for a Property Development In Acton
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