blending garden design with coastal conservation
Set within the Chichester Harbour Conservancy, a designated AONB, SSSI and RAMSAR site, this garden is a rare coastal plot with extraordinary ecological value. The brief called for a naturalistic garden that would blend seamlessly with its unique setting, encourage wildlife, and create a low-maintenance landscape that could be enjoyed by the whole family.
The Challenge
The site’s strong rectangular shape and open southern aspect towards the sea offered sweeping but unfiltered views of the foreshore, which lacked depth, mystery, and privacy. Wildlife was already abundant - shore birds, deer, and a wide range of woodland species, but the client wished to extend habitat further into the garden while retaining access and amenity. Practical considerations also shaped the brief:
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Introducing shelter from wind and salt burn
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Resolving drainage issues on heavy clay soil
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Balancing naturalistic planting with mown areas for five grandchildren to play
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Creating screening from the road and neighbouring properties without losing the sense of openness
Rethinking the orchard and integrating the existing pond as a wildlife and social space
Our Approach
We developed a concept and masterplan that would allow the garden to evolve in stages while ensuring the design responded to both ecological and family needs. Key strategies included:
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Southern vista: introducing low woodland shrubs, groundcover, and bulbs to create a semi-enclosed landscape, filtering views and encouraging exploration while preserving framed outlooks to the water.
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Wildlife habitat: enhancing the meadow with seasonal bog scrapes, native hedgerows, and gradated shrub planting to provide cover for waterbirds and woodland species.
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Sheltered living spaces: designing a north-facing courtyard and orchard glade as principal outdoor entertaining areas, with the potential for pergolas and small trees to provide privacy and structure.
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Woodland edge planting: extending groundcover and native shrubs beneath existing oaks and hawthorns to reinforce the character of the eastern boundary and reduce maintenance.
Natural transitions: creating subtle shifts between orchard, woodland, meadow, and foreshore zones to establish a cohesive and ecologically rich landscape.
Planting and Establishment
The garden was planted in spring 2025, with the first phase of wildflower sowing in March.
An annual mix was chosen to quickly establish colour, suppress weeds, and provide summer interest in the first growing season.
In late August, perennial wildflower seeds were sown, timed to ensure strong establishment, so that from 2026 onwards, the meadow will return year after year with an increasingly rich and resilient tapestry of species.
The Vision
The resulting design balances ecological enhancement with the practical needs of a multigenerational family.
The site will become a garden of shifting moods and habitats, sheltered courtyards, meadow paths, an orchard glade, and transitional foreshore planting, each space contributing to the wider mosaic of the harbour landscape.
We're very excited to see the garden develop and evolve over the coming years!
