A detached Victorian Villa, facing out over the East Beach at North Berwick, with wonderful views of the Bass Rock and Firth of Forth.

The Clients had inherited the front garden, which had a worn pathway and steps to the front door, flanked by two traditional raised areas of lawn and flower beds.  A worn pathway ran around the front of the house, narrow in places, with mixed surfacing of concrete and stone. There were two stone side boundary walls and a low front wall with metal railings and metal gate. On each side of the garden area were car parking pavior driveways, which the Clients wished to keep.

The Clients wished the new design to reflect the seaside site of the property, and link the house to the garden, whilst remaining a practical space for car parking and access, plus sitting in to enjoy the fantastic views, with wind and salt resistant planting giving year round interest in form, shape and colour.

The new stone paved widened top terrace by the Villa was fronted by retaining stone plant beds between 3 sets of new steps. The one in front of the beautiful two storey bay window was semi-circular to link the house to the garden. 

In the middle area where the lawn and plants beds were removed, the levels were lowered to give a feeling of space and cohesiveness to the garden, whilst also acting as an area to hold water should the garden ever be flooded during storms. 

Stone paving slabs were set into soft grey Scottish pebbles from the front gate up to to the steps to the front door. Two new plant beds with metal edging were designed with evergreen planting in the Scottish pebbles. A range of different seizes of pebbles were used to add textural interest. Room was left to add a seat to sit and relax and enjoy the marvellous views.

Planting by Alison MacDonald, Foliage Planting Design

The front garden was challenging in several ways as it is facing north with a proportion of the garden in part shade, harsh salt laden winds and sandy free draining soil. Firstly, I walked along the street and took a look at what was thriving in neighbour’s gardens with the same conditions.  It was essential for plants to tolerate the sandy soil, some shade, salt and wind, so not the easiest Brief.

The Clients liked a blue/purple, creamy yellow/white, silver colour palette which compliments the sea and beach views and cool, glaucous tones of the Scottish pebbles.

Evergreen structure for year round interest include repeats of Pinus mugo ‘Mops’ in the pebbles, Hebes, Ceanothus thyrisiflorus, Astelia ‘Silver Spear’, Brachyglottis ‘Silver Doormouse’, Juniper ‘Blue Star’, Rosmarinus prostratus, Taxus baccata topiary balls repeating along the house border.

Perennials including Stachys byzantina, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and G. sanguineum, Anthemis ‘E C Buxton’, Eryngium varieties, Blue Agapanthus, Nepeta, Acanthus mollis, Achillea ‘King Alfred’, Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’, Armeria, Stipa tenuissima.

Shady borders nearer the house include repeats of Hosta ‘Patriot’. Hakonechloa macra, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, Galium odoratum, Alchemilla mollis, Astrantia ‘Roma, Anemone ‘Wild Swan’ and Leptinella.  Deciduous shrubs Sambucus ‘Black Lace’, Hydrangea paniculata, repeat in each border to knit and connect them together. www.alisonmacdonald.co.uk

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