The owners of this beach house wanted an outdoor space where they could retreat from the pressures of busy working lives and reconnect with nature and the surrounding landscape.
In response, we created a garden designed to sit naturally within its beautiful coastal setting in East Lothian. Gently curving paths and flowing borders reflect the shapes of the surrounding sand dunes and bays. Boulders and pebble pathways help visually connect the garden to the wider landscape beyond.
The owners also wanted to minimise their environmental impact. To achieve this, we worked with the existing conditions, which were effectively an extension of the beach.
We carefully selected a plant palette, using species well suited to the dry, sandy coastal environment, allowing the garden to thrive without the need for intensive irrigation.
We then planted directly into the sand, avoiding the unnecessary import of large quantities of topsoil. Over time, the planting adapted naturally to the exposed coastal conditions, becoming increasingly drought tolerant and resilient. An added benefit was that the tougher planting proved less attractive to local wildlife such as hares and deer.
