The Victorian period of gardening (roughly 1819 -1901) was influenced by the emergence of a new wealthy middle class society in the UK, keen to explore and develop their own gardens as a show of success and wealth. Garden enthusiasts collected exotic plants from their travels and this brought about a great interest in architectural plants and plants of the exotica. Garden design was about creating fashions and using flamboyant features in the garden. This was a break away from the previous garden approach of mimicking the natural British landscape, and gardens returned to a more delineated, controlled design style.
	Malvern Victorian Front Garden This couple with three children wanted to upgrade their front garden whilst respecting the heritage value of their period Victorian home. A new driveway was required as well as a second spot for off street parking, requiring a second cross over. The client was keen to have a garden that could survive on harvested water. A smart decision was made by the client to bury a 20,000 litre concrete water tank in the front garden. The lid of the tank was carefully located into the design so that it was placed under the feature Urn. A plan was needed so that the tank installer could exactly locate the tank lid when it was placed into the hole. The tank harvests water from the roof of the house and is used to irrigate the front and back gardens. Driveways take up a massive amount of area in front gardens so I designed the driveway so that it became more than just a driveway – it became part of the garden. Incorporating varying materials, I was able to bring the drive to life and respect the period of the house. A mix of sawn bluestone, exposed aggregate, and granite cobbles were used to create a textural design feature, with geometric value. Maximising space is a smart way to capitalize on property value. Part of the style of Victorian gardens is to control the layout of the landscape and this is best done by introducing axis into your design. This formed a simple cross shape in the design, but when the Urn was placed on top of the pit lid, I was able to extend an off set diamond of paving around the Urn to make a feature of the front entrance and Urn. Installing a new period Victorian Iron fence comes at a cost, but it is a great legacy to leave when restoring period homes and gardens. A period fence will also add the value for your property so it is smart investment worth exploring. Part of the Victorian style is to show a bit of flair and to use features to your advantage. A black Urn is used into his front garden and is bolted down to a pedestal. The pedestal sits on a paver, which sits on top of the water tank lid.