Garden Design in Chew Magna, Chew Valley
The Brief
This garden design project in Chew Magna, in the heart of the Chew Valley, was created for a detached red sandstone home typical of the area. The clients wanted a modern country garden that would feel relaxed, natural and inviting, while providing practical spaces for family life and entertaining.
With young teenagers at home and a busy lifestyle, the garden needed to be low maintenance, easy to use and designed around multiple outdoor “moments” — from morning coffee to evenings around a sunken fire pit, and larger gatherings with friends and family.
The overall style brief was for soft, textural planting in whites, pinks and purples, with structure and interest throughout the year.
Site Conditions & Design Challenges
Although the garden sat next to the beautiful countryside, the existing space was difficult to use. The main challenge was a sloping lawn, which made the garden feel awkward and limited how the family could enjoy it day-to-day.
Additional challenges included:
Heavy clay soil, making planting difficult and drainage unpredictable
An awkward garden shape, sloping down towards a stream at the bottom of the site
Existing paving and decking that felt disjointed, with no clear zones for outdoor living
A north-facing driveway area, meaning planting choices needed to suit shade and low light
Limited turning and parking space, with the driveway blending directly into the lawn
The garden had plenty of potential, but needed strong structure and clear layout planning to make it practical and enjoyable.
Garden Design Approach
The key to unlocking the space was to introduce a clear sense of flow and usability, while creating level areas that felt natural within the landscape.
My approach was to design the garden as a series of connected terraces, each with a distinct purpose, while ensuring the planting softened the structure and linked the garden together visually.
Because of the clay soil, raised planting areas were introduced to allow for improved soil conditions, better drainage, and more flexibility in plant selection.
The Final Garden Design Layout
To transform the steep slope into a functional garden, I designed two main terraces, with a third gentle transition down towards the lower garden.
The Upper Terrace (Future Pool Option)
The upper terrace was designed as a flat, flexible space where a future swimming pool could be added if desired. For now, this area provides a usable lawn space framed by raised borders, allowing the family to enjoy an open area while keeping the option for future development.
Raised beds surrounding the lawn provide a framework for naturalistic planting, bringing softness, texture and seasonal colour while also helping to manage soil conditions.
Kitchen Terrace (Everyday Living Space)
Close to the house, the space outside the kitchen was designed as a comfortable spot for everyday use, including a small seating area for morning coffee and quieter moments.
This area then flows into a larger entertaining zone, with a pergola dining space designed to seat 8+ people comfortably, offering shade and structure through the warmer months.
Sunken Fire Pit Terrace (Evening Space)
As the garden wraps around the corner, the existing decking was removed to lower the level and create a more sheltered, intimate area.
This became a sunken fire pit terrace with built-in seating, positioned to overlook the lower garden and take advantage of evening light. This space is shaded earlier in the day, but becomes a warm and atmospheric spot as the sun drops.
Driveway Design & Front Garden Planting
The front driveway area required careful consideration, as it is north facing and receives limited direct sunlight. Planting was chosen to provide year-round structure and a sense of arrival, while remaining resilient and low maintenance.
Key planting included evergreen structure and shade-tolerant varieties such as:
Sarcococca (for evergreen form and winter scent)
Euonymus (for varigated colour)
Ferns (for texture and softness)
Epimedium (for ground cover)
To define the driveway more clearly and improve privacy, an evergreen hedge was introduced. This helped separate the parking area from the main garden, creating a more intentional layout and a stronger visual divide between practical and leisure spaces.
Planting Design & Seasonal Interest
The planting style for this garden was designed to feel naturalistic and modern, with a soft, meadow-inspired palette that suits the rural character of the Chew Valley landscape.
A combination of perennials and ornamental grasses was used to create movement and texture, supported by evergreen structure for winter presence.
Key planting features included:
Meadow-style perennials such as Echinacea and Scabious
Structural height from hardy upright Salvias
Ornamental grasses to bring softness and seasonal movement
Evergreen dome-shaped shrubs such as Pittosporum, providing year-round form
Winter heather to extend seasonal interest into colder months
A winter clematis climbing through the pergola structure to add winter detail
Although the clients didn’t specifically request a wildlife garden, the planting choices were naturally pollinator-friendly, supporting bees and beneficial insects throughout the seasons.
The overall planting palette focused on whites, pinks and purples, with layers designed to feel relaxed, romantic and softly structured.
Materials & Garden Features
The clients wanted a natural, warm material palette in light buff and beige tones, suited to the character of the property.
To achieve this, limestone was chosen for paving, walling and steps, creating a cohesive look across the terraces.
Additional material detail included:
Limestone paving for key entertaining areas
Limestone steps connecting terrace levels
A herringbone paver pathway leading out from the kitchen
Raised planting borders to improve soil conditions and structure planting
The herringbone paving was used to visually define different zones, helping to separate the morning coffee space from the larger dining area and pergola terrace.
Design Deliverables
For this Chew Magna garden design project, the full design package included:
Master layout plan
Detailed planting plans
3D visuals and mood boards to communicate the design clearly
Planting seasonality charts
Materials moodboard
Selected products and suppliers
These documents ensure the garden can be built with clarity and confidence, whether the clients choose to implement the design in stages or as a full build.
The Result
Although the garden is not yet built, the finished design provides a much clearer, more functional structure for outdoor living.
The space has been transformed from an awkward, sloping garden into a series of usable terraces designed for:
family life
entertaining
long-term planting interest
flexible future development
Once implemented, the garden will offer multiple seating areas, soft naturalistic planting, and a timeless modern country feel that suits both the property and the surrounding Chew Valley landscape.
Garden Design in Chew Magna and the Chew Valley
This project is a clear example of how thoughtful design can completely transform a sloping garden in the Chew Valley. I work across Chew Magna and surrounding villages including Litton, Blagdon, Wrington and nearby areas of North Somerset.
Related Garden Design Services
Planning a Garden Redesign in Chew Magna, or nearby?
If you’re looking for a garden designer in Chew Magna or the Chew Valley, I offer consultations and full garden design packages tailored to your home, lifestyle and site conditions.
Get in touch to discuss your project and book a consultation.