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Farmhouse Gardens
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Farmhouse Gardens
In 2019, Butler Landscapes were commissioned to design and build a complete transformation of the grounds surrounding a large residence in Oswestry. The project, led by Paul Butler, covered over 10,000m² and was awarded a BALI National Landscape Award 2021 in the category Domestic Garden Construction – Over £250k.
Brief
The brief was to create a garden that balanced the traditional character of the property with a design that would evolve and support a modern family lifestyle. Inspiration came from the surrounding Shropshire countryside, with the aim of creating a series of connected spaces that offered both beauty and biodiversity.
The Build
Butler Landscapes delivered every element of the project, including:
- A naturalistic wildlife pond, lined with clay and planted with semi-aquatic species to support wildlife.
- A sunken seating area, with a cascading water feature, softened with planting and designed as a tranquil retreat with views across the garden.
- A separate air raid shelter, constructed with a steel frame and oak sleepers, providing a unique vantage point to watch wildlife over the pond.
- A formal Parterre Garden to the front of the property, with topiary for structure and herbaceous planting for seasonal colour.
- A kitchen garden featuring a Hartley Botanic greenhouse, raised oak planters and composting bays, designed for productivity yet screened from the main house.
- A line of mature yew hedging and pleached Photinia Red Robin trees, installed to provide instant privacy, shelter, and structure within the garden.
- Boundaries softened with estate fencing, blending the property naturally into its wider landscape setting.
- Outdoor buildings and a summerhouse adjacent to the pond, designed and built with an indoor room to provide warmth and shelter, extending garden use throughout the year.
- Sweeping curved pathways linking patios, lawn areas, wildflower meadows, orchard and garden rooms.
- Construction of outbuildings, orchard planting and the installation of outdoor lighting.
Planting
The planting design combined structural evergreens with flowing perennials and seasonal highlights, ensuring year-round colour, texture and wildlife value. Orchard and wildflower meadows were planted to enhance biodiversity and provide food sources for pollinators. Shrubs, grasses and perennials softened transitions between the formal and naturalistic spaces, creating a sense of journey and harmony across the garden.
Materials & Detailing
To ensure a traditional look with modern durability, Indian sandstone paving was used alongside Scottish beach pebbles and rustic-coloured paving. Millboard composite decking was installed by the pond to replicate the look of natural timber while offering long-term resilience. Black estate railings subtly defined areas without interrupting views. Every material was chosen with sustainability and longevity in mind, ensuring the garden will mature beautifully for years to come.
The Outcome
This farmhouse garden embodies the best of Shropshire’s landscape while providing a perfect family space. A formal sense of arrival is created with pleached trees and framed pathways, leading into a sequence of inviting garden rooms that encourage exploration.
It is a garden of contrasts: formal and naturalistic, traditional and contemporary, architectural and biodiverse. For Butler Landscapes, this was a career-defining project; a garden that not only won national recognition but continues to evolve and thrive as a rich, inspiring environment for the family to enjoy across every season.