In this contemporary setting, a traditional country garden design is integrated for novice gardeners in a modern nation
In the heart of Cambridge, a Grade II-listed house named Park House has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the visionary work of landscape architect Robert Myers. The new garden, unveiled in 2020 during the first Covid lockdown, is a stunning blend of modern design and respect for the historic setting.
Sharon and David Smith, the house's owners, developed a newfound passion for plants and nature while caring for their restored garden during the lockdowns. Inspired by this, they expanded the original plant list with their own choices.
Robert Myers' design for the garden at Park House exemplifies a synthesis of conservation-minded planting with a nuanced architectural dialogue. His approach respects the setting of the historic house, balancing contemporary garden elements with the historic context. This is a hallmark of his practice, working sensitively in historic landscapes across the UK.
The garden is described as wildlife-friendly and designed to invite living and interaction, not just visual appreciation. Key aspects include biodiversity-focused plants, integration with historic architecture, and visual and experiential design.
Myers' planting schemes prioritize robust perennials and grasses that support wildlife, aligning with ecological garden design principles. He has incorporated pollen-rich perennials like Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster', Sesleria autumnalis, Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination', Agastache 'Blue Boa', Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', Penstemon 'Raven', and others to attract wildlife and increase biodiversity.
As seasons turn, the reflective water tanks become more prominent, providing structure and interest in winter. These off-the-peg purchases from Dutch supplier Adezz are made from Corten steel with a black polyurea lining and a pump system to create a smooth reflective surface.
The design of the outdoor space is a marriage of the old and the new, referencing the bold glass-fronted extension and historic pathways. The main axis through the garden is a diagonal path that links to an elevated paved terrace. The planting beds are sandwiched between the diagonal pathway and another straight path, providing alternative routes to the wildflower meadow and new pool and pool house.
The garden's beds are flooded with tulips in spring, followed by a succession of alliums, euphorbias, and geraniums. The main show of flowers and grasses sets the garden alight from midsummer through to autumn.
Beyond the pool house on the north side, a new greenhouse and informal kitchen garden for growing soft fruit and vegetables lie. Many of the trees in the old orchard have been replaced with a range of apples, pears, and walnuts, and more fruit trees have been included in the pool garden.
Robert Myers' goal was to create a contemporary garden surrounding Park House that supported local wildlife and stayed true to the historic setting. His masterplan for the landscape at Park House includes hedges and trees for nesting, water to sustain various garden creatures, and climate-resilient planting to support insect populations.
The garden near Cambridge was featured as a bold new flower garden worthy of mention in Country Life in 2023, highlighting its success in merging modern garden design with heritage settings. Sharon and David maintain the garden themselves, with help only for trimming their boundary hedges and mowing the meadow.
In late spring and through summer, the main show of flowers and grasses illuminates the garden, inviting interaction and living within the space, including areas that support wildlife and people alike, rather than being a purely ornamental garden. This garden is a testament to the beauty that can be achieved when conservation, design, and history come together in harmony.
- Sharon and David Smith, who developed a newfound passion for plants and nature during the lockdowns, expanded the original plant list of the garden at Park House.
- Robert Myers' design for the garden at Park House blends a synthesis of conservation-minded planting with a nuanced architectural dialogue, creating a wildlife-friendly space.
- Key aspects of the garden design include biodiversity-focused plants, integration with historic architecture, and visual and experiential design, inviting living and interaction.
- Myers' planting schemes prioritize robust perennials and grasses that support wildlife, aligning with ecological garden design principles, such as Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster', Sesleria autumnalis, Veronicastrum virginicum 'Fascination', and more.
- As seasons turn, the reflective water tanks made from Corten steel with a black polyurea lining become more prominent, providing structure and interest in winter.
- The garden's beds are flooded with tulips in spring, followed by a succession of alliums, euphorbias, and geraniums, with the main show of flowers and grasses setting the garden alight from midsummer through to autumn.
- Beyond the pool house on the north side lies a new greenhouse and informal kitchen garden for growing soft fruit and vegetables, incorporating a range of apples, pears, and walnut trees, as part of the garden's focus on sustainable-living.
