School Garden

Context:
Small suburban school garden, full shade/part sun, public.

Brief:
“The school requires a welcoming entrance space for pupils, teachers and visitors, that will provide opportunities for quiet reflection. The design to reference the school’s Gaelic ethos, through provision of an Ogham stone sculpture, with the school’s name inscribed in the ancient Celtic alphabet”.

Concept:
Reflective of the new school’s contemporary architecture, in layout, material selection, and colour combinations used. A striking linear paving design symbolises in Ogham, the initials C and M in the school’s name, and forms directional paths that criss-cross the garden. The square spaces between the paths provide focal points for planting, and social zones for seating. Bold architectural planting between adjoining beds, alternates in two distinct structure groupings, with two character trees providing shelter, and a secure contemplative ambience. A modern take on an ancient Ogham stone forms an elegant sculptural focal piece completing the scene.

Key elements:
Contemporary Ogham stone, bespoke limestone seats, unique block paving pattern, shade tolerant evergreen shrub, and seasonal perennial planting, plus two semi-mature silver birch specimen trees.

Key plants:
Canopy/character/specimen
Betula pendula – Silver birch
Architectural/specimen/accent
Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ – Oregon grape ‘Charity’
Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata Aureomarginata’ – Golden Irish Yew
Foliage/flower/groundcover
Hedera helix ‘Little Diamond’ – Ivy ‘Little Diamond’
Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’ – Alum root ‘Amber Waves’
Liriope muscari – Big blue lilyturf
Vinca minor ‘Illumination’ – Lesser periwinkle ‘Illumination’
Evergreen/texture
Carex buchananii ‘Red Rooster’ – Leatherleaf sedge ‘Red Rooster’
Gaultheria procumbens – Checkerberry