This Dartmouth courtyard sits close to the water and takes a battering from coastal wind for much of the year, which meant previous planting attempts had struggled to establish. The owners wanted somewhere sheltered to sit as much as they wanted a garden that looked good.
We designed a layout with a low retaining wall to create a sheltered pocket for seating, then chose planting known to cope with salt laden wind, including a mix of grasses and hardy shrubs around the boundary. Paving was chosen to complement the stone of the surrounding buildings.
The garden has now been through two winters without significant losses among the planting, which the owners see as proof the approach worked. They use the seating area regularly, even on breezier days.