Wildflowers and Outdoor Rooms Transform an English Country Garden
A landscape designer turns neglected lawn into a leafy haven that welcomes wildlife and invites gatherings
Faced with 2½ acres of lawn and little else, the owners of this property in the English Midlands were stumped: How could they create an enjoyable backyard that would also attract and support local wildlife?
Landscape designer Victoria Philpott came to their rescue, creating a series of distinct, beautifully planted outdoor rooms — including a wildflower meadow, pond, swimming pool and entertaining lawn — and added elements to bring in the birds, badgers and squirrels the owners love.
Landscape designer Victoria Philpott came to their rescue, creating a series of distinct, beautifully planted outdoor rooms — including a wildflower meadow, pond, swimming pool and entertaining lawn — and added elements to bring in the birds, badgers and squirrels the owners love.
Before Photo
Before: The original yard was essentially several lawns with very little in the way of flowers or features. “It was a blank canvas,” Philpott says. “There were certain areas that had hedging in place, which we retained, but there were big open lawns that had been mowed for years and years, so they didn’t attract wildlife. There was no biodiversity or interest.”
After: The plan of the redesign shows how Philpott created a series of spaces, which are connected via the planting palette and style. “The idea was to break it up into various rooms, so each area has its own character and features. There are similarities that link them, so you get the rhythm and repetition you want through a [landscape] to ensure it all flows,” she says.
The back of the house (shown in white in the center of the plan) faces southeast. To the rear is a large lawn, with a restored swimming pool on one side (shown near the bottom of the plan) and a smaller lawn on the other side (shown near the top of the plan). An oak pergola to the left of the pool cuts through four formal lawns to the house.
At the rear of the garden (on the right side of the plan) is a less formal area with a wildlife pond, grass and wildflower meadows.
The back of the house (shown in white in the center of the plan) faces southeast. To the rear is a large lawn, with a restored swimming pool on one side (shown near the bottom of the plan) and a smaller lawn on the other side (shown near the top of the plan). An oak pergola to the left of the pool cuts through four formal lawns to the house.
At the rear of the garden (on the right side of the plan) is a less formal area with a wildlife pond, grass and wildflower meadows.
The couple wanted a space where they could site a tent for summer parties, so Philpott retained the big lawn immediately behind the house (seen here in summer looking toward the pool that’s behind the wood fence), but added borders all around to create a beautiful floral backdrop.
“I’d call my style naturalistic and quite romantic — I like to use lots of perennials and have softness in my planting,” she says. “Here, I went for a really soft feel, because when you cross the lawn and go down stone steps [on the left], you enter a more naturalistic area. I wanted to create a transition from formal planting to that wilder feel as you move away from the house.”
The Arts and Crafts-inspired plantings around the lawn include ‘Twilight’ purple asters (Eurybia x herveyi ‘Twilight’, USDA zones 3 to 9; find your zone) and white fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium ‘Album’, zones 3 to 7). “It’s often considered a weed because it gets everywhere, but this is a cultivated variety. It does self seed, but it’s actually clumped up very quickly,” Philpott says. “It’s a good choice when you’re establishing planting and you have gaps, as it fills out the space and gives the soft, romantic feel I was going for.”
Also seen growing here are purple ‘Caradonna’ sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, zones 4 to 9), white ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’ bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’, zones 5 to 9) and burgundy ‘Raven’ beardtongue (Penstemon ‘Raven’, zones 5 to 9). The dense holly hedges at either side were existing. “They provide a fantastic evergreen backdrop for planting: the purple asters look almost luminous against them,” Philpott says.
Retaining existing plants, such as these hedges, is important to Philpott. “I never want to go in, especially with a garden like this that’s been here since the early 20th century, and rip everything out, because it’s unnecessary,” she says. “It’s about seeing what’s there and what’s worth keeping and maybe reshaping it if necessary, but it would take decades to get new hedges to look like these because they’re so thick.”
“I’d call my style naturalistic and quite romantic — I like to use lots of perennials and have softness in my planting,” she says. “Here, I went for a really soft feel, because when you cross the lawn and go down stone steps [on the left], you enter a more naturalistic area. I wanted to create a transition from formal planting to that wilder feel as you move away from the house.”
The Arts and Crafts-inspired plantings around the lawn include ‘Twilight’ purple asters (Eurybia x herveyi ‘Twilight’, USDA zones 3 to 9; find your zone) and white fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium ‘Album’, zones 3 to 7). “It’s often considered a weed because it gets everywhere, but this is a cultivated variety. It does self seed, but it’s actually clumped up very quickly,” Philpott says. “It’s a good choice when you’re establishing planting and you have gaps, as it fills out the space and gives the soft, romantic feel I was going for.”
Also seen growing here are purple ‘Caradonna’ sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, zones 4 to 9), white ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’ bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’, zones 5 to 9) and burgundy ‘Raven’ beardtongue (Penstemon ‘Raven’, zones 5 to 9). The dense holly hedges at either side were existing. “They provide a fantastic evergreen backdrop for planting: the purple asters look almost luminous against them,” Philpott says.
Retaining existing plants, such as these hedges, is important to Philpott. “I never want to go in, especially with a garden like this that’s been here since the early 20th century, and rip everything out, because it’s unnecessary,” she says. “It’s about seeing what’s there and what’s worth keeping and maybe reshaping it if necessary, but it would take decades to get new hedges to look like these because they’re so thick.”
This is the same lawn in spring (looking the other way toward the smaller lawn). “There’s a lot of successional planting in the borders, so there’s color throughout the seasons,” Philpott says. This includes dwarf irises, daffodils and three types of tulips; then alliums, which serve as a bridge between the bulbs and later perennials.
In addition to adding beauty and attracting pollinators, the borders soften the edges between the flat lawn and clipped hedges. “You always want to create a transition between any verticals and horizontals,” Philpott says. “When you have a flat lawn next to a vertical fence, say, it can feel really stark, but if you introduce a transitional height, usually with some soft planting, it helps that transition and creates a nicer feel.”
The lawn is dotted with crocus bulbs (you can just see the end of them here), so in February the whole expanse is full of flowers.
In addition to adding beauty and attracting pollinators, the borders soften the edges between the flat lawn and clipped hedges. “You always want to create a transition between any verticals and horizontals,” Philpott says. “When you have a flat lawn next to a vertical fence, say, it can feel really stark, but if you introduce a transitional height, usually with some soft planting, it helps that transition and creates a nicer feel.”
The lawn is dotted with crocus bulbs (you can just see the end of them here), so in February the whole expanse is full of flowers.
Philpott restored the gorgeously mossy dry-laid stone wall at the rear of the lawn. “The foxglove planted itself and I love it,” she says. “I often think nature does it best.” These steps lead down to the more wild part of the landscape.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
The journey from the main lawn down the stone steps leads to this meadow, previously kept short but now left to grow. “There are loads of things coming up in there such as wild geraniums and buttercups, and that’s all happened because we haven’t mowed it,” Philpott says. “It’s about allowing nature to do its own thing and reclaim the space.” She’s mowed pathways through the grass, just seen leading to the back of the house in the distance.
“As designers, we create these spaces, but ultimately nature decides what it wants,” she continues. “I always think of my designs as curated chaos: You can just be led by nature and edit where you need to.”
Philpott added the wildlife pond with a cedar deck so the owners can sit out there and enjoy the scene. It’s planted with water lilies, and moorhens are now nesting there.
“As designers, we create these spaces, but ultimately nature decides what it wants,” she continues. “I always think of my designs as curated chaos: You can just be led by nature and edit where you need to.”
Philpott added the wildlife pond with a cedar deck so the owners can sit out there and enjoy the scene. It’s planted with water lilies, and moorhens are now nesting there.
Also in the more naturalistic space (the pond is just to the right of this area), Philpott cultivated a wildflower meadow, which provides food for pollinators and cover for birds. “The whole idea with the [yard] was to bring it to life in terms of wildlife and biodiversity,” she says.
She also had a circular wooden seat built around one of the trees for a little forest bathing amid the pines.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
She also had a circular wooden seat built around one of the trees for a little forest bathing amid the pines.
How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
The woven split hazel moon gate is one of two that create an entrance into the far corner of the yard. “They’re just to help delineate the areas,” Philpott says. The log piles create a boundary wall effect and wildlife habitat.
A galvanized wire mesh fence on the left has a few small holes cut at the base so hedgehogs can pass through it. Beyond the gate you can see a dead hedge they had installed, which is a den for the grandchildren.
Moon gates: Alistair Hayhurst of Underwood Crafts
A galvanized wire mesh fence on the left has a few small holes cut at the base so hedgehogs can pass through it. Beyond the gate you can see a dead hedge they had installed, which is a den for the grandchildren.
Moon gates: Alistair Hayhurst of Underwood Crafts
Here’s the other side of the dead hedge den when it was first installed. (You can see the back of the house in the distance.) The grass has since been left to grow around the space, creating a secret hideaway.
Logpiles and dead hedge den: Woodpecker Home & Garden
Logpiles and dead hedge den: Woodpecker Home & Garden
Before Photo
Before: There was previously a rotten shed at the side of the house next to the smaller lawn.
After: The owners replaced the shed with an oak-framed garden room, and Philpott created a dining area in front of it. The trees will grow to create dappled shade over the table and are underplanted with creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera, zones 5 to 9).
The flooring in the dining area is Raj Green sandstone cobblestones. “I went for these because there was already Raj Green sandstone paving around the house, and I wanted to use materials that would tie in with the existing landscaping,” Philpott says.
The flooring in the dining area is Raj Green sandstone cobblestones. “I went for these because there was already Raj Green sandstone paving around the house, and I wanted to use materials that would tie in with the existing landscaping,” Philpott says.
Philpott designed a raised bed next to the new garden room. “The door the clients use most looks out onto that wall, so we wanted to create a green backdrop — plus another place where they could have outdoor seating if they want to,” she says.
She planted evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, zones 8 to 10) trained onto wires alongside short Gertrude Jekyll English roses (Rosa ‘Ausbord’, zones 5 to 9).
Philpott also planted herbs, including trailing rosemary and thyme, in the bed and the teak planters, which contain bay trees. “I like to tuck lots of herbs among my ornamental planting — and the clients can use them for cooking,” she says.
She planted evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides, zones 8 to 10) trained onto wires alongside short Gertrude Jekyll English roses (Rosa ‘Ausbord’, zones 5 to 9).
Philpott also planted herbs, including trailing rosemary and thyme, in the bed and the teak planters, which contain bay trees. “I like to tuck lots of herbs among my ornamental planting — and the clients can use them for cooking,” she says.
Before Photo
Before: The existing derelict pool was surrounded by worn concrete and sloping ground; it was also set at an angle within the lot.
After: The pool was restored by a specialist company, and the owners had a new pool house built. “We landscaped the surroundings to create one big flat space to make it more usable,” Philpott says. The sandstone paving slabs match those used elsewhere in the landscape. “We kept the materials palette very simple,” she says.
Pool: Asher Swimpool Centre
Pool: Asher Swimpool Centre
Photo by Asher Swimpool Centre
Plantings all around the pool bring softness to the area.
Plantings all around the pool bring softness to the area.
Philpott skillfully connected each room while giving them their own character. “What I tried to do with each area was create a similar feel but have slightly different planting,” she says. “So around the pool it feels a little more contemporary.”
She introduced ‘Dark Green’ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’, zones 5 to 8) clipped into different-sized balls. “It adds to that evergreen structure that creates a backbone through the planting,” she says.
These sit with ‘Kit Cat’ catmint (Nepeta x faassenii ‘Kit Cat’, zones 3 to 8) and grasses, including autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis, zones 5 to 8) at the front. “It’s a shorter, semi-evergreen grass that goes nicely with the [catmint],” Philpott says.
Green oak-framed fence panels: Alistair Hayhurst of Underwood Crafts
She introduced ‘Dark Green’ Japanese holly (Ilex crenata ‘Dark Green’, zones 5 to 8) clipped into different-sized balls. “It adds to that evergreen structure that creates a backbone through the planting,” she says.
These sit with ‘Kit Cat’ catmint (Nepeta x faassenii ‘Kit Cat’, zones 3 to 8) and grasses, including autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis, zones 5 to 8) at the front. “It’s a shorter, semi-evergreen grass that goes nicely with the [catmint],” Philpott says.
Green oak-framed fence panels: Alistair Hayhurst of Underwood Crafts
Here you can see the connection between the pool and the oak pergola, with the fence beyond offering privacy.
At the end of the pergola path on the left there’s a sculpture made by a local blacksmith. “He used the wheels from an old market gardener’s cart that had been left in the [yard],” Philpott says. Behind the hedge there’s a compost area.
Sculpture: David Turner
At the end of the pergola path on the left there’s a sculpture made by a local blacksmith. “He used the wheels from an old market gardener’s cart that had been left in the [yard],” Philpott says. Behind the hedge there’s a compost area.
Sculpture: David Turner
Before Photo
Before: Between the pool (on the right) and another largely empty lawn there was a very tired pathway.
After: Philpott designed a Raj Green sandstone cobblestone path to fit in with the pale materials palette. On the old lawn, she created a formal garden with an Arts and Crafts-style oak pergola — which echoes the new garden room on the other side of the house — and abundant plantings.
Wisteria grows at the base of the pergola, and should cover it in time, as well as clipped shrubby ‘Sutherlandii’ Veronica (Veronica pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’, zones 7 to 10), scented shrub roses, catmint, geraniums and spring bulbs, as well as allium (in full bloom here).
Four black metal obelisks in the center of each square of grass are planted with climbing purple clematis and purple geraniums.
How to Design Your Garden for More Meaning and Connection
Wisteria grows at the base of the pergola, and should cover it in time, as well as clipped shrubby ‘Sutherlandii’ Veronica (Veronica pinguifolia ‘Sutherlandii’, zones 7 to 10), scented shrub roses, catmint, geraniums and spring bulbs, as well as allium (in full bloom here).
Four black metal obelisks in the center of each square of grass are planted with climbing purple clematis and purple geraniums.
How to Design Your Garden for More Meaning and Connection
Stone steps across from the pergola lead up to a path that runs from an entrance gate on the left to the house on the right.
Three little windows in the split hazel fence (just above the steps) open up views to an open grass area that’s full of bulbs. “Even though the clients wanted to create some kind of barrier to give a little bit more privacy to the pool area, I didn’t want us to completely block it off, so as you come up the steps you can peek through to the meadow beyond,” Philpott says.
Thin terra-cotta tiles that match the home’s roof are set into a pattern amid the sandstone cobbles. “A big thing with Arts and Crafts [yards] is using vernacular materials,” she says, “so where possible we’ve used local materials to make sure it all ties in.”
Lighting appears sparingly in the yard to protect wildlife. There are simple lights on every other pergola post and some downlights in the flower beds and on the terrace — all of which can easily be switched off at bedtime — but none in the wider yard.
Fence panels: Alistair Hayhurst, Underwood Crafts
Three little windows in the split hazel fence (just above the steps) open up views to an open grass area that’s full of bulbs. “Even though the clients wanted to create some kind of barrier to give a little bit more privacy to the pool area, I didn’t want us to completely block it off, so as you come up the steps you can peek through to the meadow beyond,” Philpott says.
Thin terra-cotta tiles that match the home’s roof are set into a pattern amid the sandstone cobbles. “A big thing with Arts and Crafts [yards] is using vernacular materials,” she says, “so where possible we’ve used local materials to make sure it all ties in.”
Lighting appears sparingly in the yard to protect wildlife. There are simple lights on every other pergola post and some downlights in the flower beds and on the terrace — all of which can easily be switched off at bedtime — but none in the wider yard.
Fence panels: Alistair Hayhurst, Underwood Crafts
Philpott created a bird feeding and drinking station near the house (just seen at the far right), and now numerous birds, including pheasants and sparrow hawks, stop by, as well as usually shy badgers.
“We found wildlife-friendly water bowls for the birds and recessed them into the tops of old logs, so they’re at different heights [for the different visitors],” she says. “It makes the view from the house nicer too — a bit more sculptural.” She also built a squirrel feeding station near the house, but away from the bird feeders.
The goal is for the yard to require no additional irrigation. “There’s some leaky hosepipe around the main lawn, because the plants that were trying to establish in the first year had a tough time, but it’s not permanent,” she says. “I’m eager to not rely on irrigation where possible. We’ve tried to design the planting to cope with the clay conditions when it dries out in summer.”
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
“We found wildlife-friendly water bowls for the birds and recessed them into the tops of old logs, so they’re at different heights [for the different visitors],” she says. “It makes the view from the house nicer too — a bit more sculptural.” She also built a squirrel feeding station near the house, but away from the bird feeders.
The goal is for the yard to require no additional irrigation. “There’s some leaky hosepipe around the main lawn, because the plants that were trying to establish in the first year had a tough time, but it’s not permanent,” she says. “I’m eager to not rely on irrigation where possible. We’ve tried to design the planting to cope with the clay conditions when it dries out in summer.”
Check out our guide to get started on your home project
The bird and squirrel feeders, wildlife pond, pollinator-friendly plants and grass meadow, as well as log piles and “hedgehog highway” holes in the fence all add up to a yard creatures can enjoy — and the owners love it.
“They really like that so much wildlife has been encouraged in, but also that they can walk through it and there’s always so much to see, because it’s been designed to be enjoyed all year round,” Philpott says. “They can see it come to life from January all the way through.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find home design and building professionals
“They really like that so much wildlife has been encouraged in, but also that they can walk through it and there’s always so much to see, because it’s been designed to be enjoyed all year round,” Philpott says. “They can see it come to life from January all the way through.”
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find home design and building professionals
Sponsored
Sponsored
DC Area's High-End Custom Landscape Design Build Firm
Yard at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with grown-up children and young grandchildren
Location: East Midlands, England
Size: 2½ acres
Landscape designer: Victoria Philpott of Victoria Philpott Gardens
The house was built in 1930, arriving slightly after the height of the Arts and Crafts movement. It follows the style of English designers like William Morris, prioritizing natural materials and traditional craftsmanship. Landscapes followed similar principles, serving as an extension of the house and featuring natural materials and abundant plantings. When the owners bought the house, however, the backyard they inherited didn’t really fit the bill. “It’s surrounded by countryside, but the [yard] itself felt quite empty and sterile,” designer Victoria Philpott says.
The brief was open, but the couple knew they wanted to bring in wildlife and have spaces where they could hang out with family and hold summer parties.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz