Garden Design in Wrington, North Somerset
Creating a Mediterranean-inspired garden for entertaining and relaxing
This garden design project in Wrington, North Somerset, was created for a client who wanted to transform an empty garden into a beautiful outdoor living space inspired by the relaxed lifestyle of the Mediterranean. The brief centred around entertaining a large extended family while also creating quieter spaces where she could escape and unwind. Through thoughtful zoning, drought-tolerant planting and carefully selected materials, the design creates a garden that feels warm, welcoming and effortlessly connected to the outdoors.
The Brief
The client wanted a garden that felt like an extension of her home while capturing the relaxed atmosphere of a Mediterranean holiday. Her dream was to step outside and instantly feel transported to a warm, sun-soaked retreat, with beautiful planting, natural materials and inviting spaces for outdoor living.
The brief included creating a generous entertaining area for family and friends, together with quieter places to relax in both sun and shade, including a secluded fire pit for evenings outdoors. The soothing sound of running water was also important to help soften noise from the nearby village, while herb beds and raised vegetable planters would allow fresh ingredients to be picked straight from the garden for alfresco dining.
Site Conditions & Design Challenges
Although the garden offered plenty of space, it lacked structure and character. With no existing trees or shrubs, there was little privacy and virtually no shade despite the garden receiving sunshine from morning until evening. The challenge was to introduce enough planting and carefully positioned trees to soften the space without losing its bright, open feel.
Rather than simply filling the garden with features, the design focused on creating a series of connected outdoor rooms that naturally guided movement through the space while still maintaining views across the garden.
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
The before photographs show a garden with plenty of potential but very little structure or identity. The 3D visualisations above illustrate how the design transforms the empty space into a series of connected outdoor rooms, balancing generous entertaining areas with more secluded spaces for relaxation, all brought together by naturalistic planting inspired by the Mediterranean.
A large limestone terrace provides the main entertaining area where family and friends can gather for outdoor dining. Optional shade sails can be added during the height of summer, allowing the space to remain comfortable throughout the day.
Beyond the dining terrace, a bespoke corner pergola creates a sheltered seating area where the client can relax with a morning coffee or enjoy a quiet evening after guests have left. Beneath the pergola, patterned porcelain paving with a beautifully weathered appearance is framed by terracotta-style edging tiles, evoking the unique character of a traditional Mediterranean courtyard.
Hidden within the planting, a more intimate fire pit area offers a completely different atmosphere. Finished with rustic hoggin and surrounded by evergreen planting, this secluded corner was designed as a peaceful retreat rather than another entertaining space. Positioned behind a multi-stem tree, it feels private and enclosed despite remaining connected to the rest of the garden.
The calming sound of water flows throughout the space from a contemporary water trough featuring a gently cascading blade. Positioned carefully within the design, the water feature helps soften background noise while creating a relaxing focal point that can be enjoyed from several seating areas.
Planting Design & Seasonal Interest
Planting plays a central role in creating the Mediterranean atmosphere.
Several carefully positioned multi-stem trees, including Betula 'Moonbeam', Amelanchier and ornamental cherry, provide welcome dappled shade during the hottest part of the day while also helping to screen neighbouring properties and frame key views through the garden.
Evergreen shrubs such as Phillyrea angustifolia were selected for their resemblance to olive trees while offering far greater reliability in the UK climate. Combined with architectural foliage from Fatsia japonica, they provide year-round structure and reinforce the holiday-inspired character of the garden.
The herb and vegetable planters sit close to the entertaining spaces, allowing freshly picked basil, tomatoes, courgettes and seasonal herbs to become part of everyday outdoor cooking and dining.
The wider planting scheme celebrates texture, movement and long seasons of interest. Lavender, Santolina, Stachys, Perovskia and Erigeron thrive in the sunny conditions, filling the garden with soft blues, silvery foliage and gentle pastel tones throughout spring and summer.
As autumn and winter arrive, ornamental grasses, Phlomis and Verbena retain their seed heads and structure, ensuring the garden continues to look beautiful even after the flowering season has ended.
Materials & Garden Features
The carefully selected material palette helps reinforce the Mediterranean character while providing practical spaces for everyday use.
Cream and buff limestone paving forms the principal terraces, complemented by warm gravel that links each garden room together. Around the pergola, terracotta edging and patterned porcelain paving introduce colour, texture and the appearance of age, reminiscent of traditional courtyards found across southern Europe.
The secluded fire pit area is surfaced with natural hoggin to create a softer, more rustic atmosphere, while touches of warm copper slate around the herb garden add richness and contrast against the surrounding planting.
Together, these materials create subtle changes in character throughout the garden while maintaining a harmonious overall design.
Design Deliverables
To help the client fully visualise the proposal before construction, the project included a comprehensive design package consisting of:
· A detailed master layout plan.
· 3D visualisations.
· Several planting plans.
· Carefully curated planting and materials mood boards.
· Materials and Suppliers selection
· Build details and measurements
These drawings and visuals allowed every aspect of the design to be explored before work began, ensuring the finished garden would reflect the client's vision.
The Result
This garden design transforms an empty plot in Wrington into a welcoming outdoor space inspired by the warmth and relaxed lifestyle of the Mediterranean. Thoughtfully designed for entertaining, relaxation and year-round enjoyment, it combines practical outdoor living with naturalistic planting to create a timeless garden that encourages its owners to spend more time outdoors.
Looking for a Garden Designer in Wrington or North Somerset?
Every garden should reflect the people who use it. Whether you're planning a complete garden transformation, a new-build garden or simply looking for fresh ideas, I create bespoke garden designs that balance beautiful planting with practical outdoor living.
If you're looking for a garden designer in Wrington, North Somerset or the surrounding villages, I'd love to help you create a garden that's tailored to your lifestyle and designed to be enjoyed for years to come.
