Amateur Gardening – 10 July 2019

50 AmAteur GArDeNING 6 JULY 2019

A small space is no barrier to having a multi-purpose garden, says Sue Bradley

T

hree levels to work with

means a trio of different planting

opportunities for Glen and

Natalie Beswetherick.

The couple, whose 1990s home sits

around 650ft (200m) above sea level in

Bussage, near Stroud in Gloucestershire,

have created a multi-use garden on the

sloping plot behind it.

The lowest level immediately

outside their back door is just perfect

for entertaining, with a large table

and benches for dining and even a

barbecue set-up built to blend with

the stone retaining wall behind.

Nearby is a small water feature,

again made from stone, around which

is positioned a series of potted plants

to provide extra colour and texture.

Hosta collection

The other, shadier end of the patio is

home to Natalie’s collection of potted

hostas, displaying an array of different

leaf shapes and hues.

A set of steps leads to a more open

lawned level surrounded by borders

containing a contrasting mix of flowers

and foliage, along with a wooden

pergola clad with the spring-flowering

Clematis ‘elizabeth’.

A stone wall built by Natalie from

materials discarded by builders allows

the slope to be split into two levels, the

Make the most of every corner: here a stone

water feature fits neatly between two fences

Ideas for gorgeous gardens

Get lookthe

A garden on three levels

“The garden was

basically a slope

when we arrived”

Plant Euphorbia griffithii

‘Fireglow’ for an explosion

of orange bracts on upright

stems. It thrives in partial

shade and grows to about

20in (50cm) in height

Photographs by Peter Chatterton