Henfield
Sussex
Domestic residential
2017-ongoing
Design of nine acres of gardens and wider landscape around a modernised Grade II listed residential farmhouse property dating from the 16th century and nestling at the foot of the Sussex South Downs, within the South Downs National Park.
Our ambition was to produce a landscape to serve the needs of a modern family while acknowledging the existing historic rural context, characterised by agricultural fields, hedgerows and a stream with spawning sea trout and rich flora and fauna along its banks. The result is a layering of landscapes: rich and elegant garden planting and a sensitive hard material palette close to the house through to naturalistic wildflower swathes and native tree planting in the wider landscape. A new pond and swale augment the existing water features and improve land drainage. The design strengthens and improves the biodiversity of the site while minimising visual impact on the sensitive surroundings.