Wiltshire Stables

The Project

Set within a converted stable block overlooking beautiful Wiltshire parkland, this garden presented a simple challenge: how to transform a steep and largely unusable space into somewhere for everyday living and entertaining, without losing its connection to the landscape beyond.

Working closely with the client, M T S Gardens developed and delivered a design that created a generous new entertaining terrace by pushing back and rebuilding the existing retaining wall in traditional brick and knapped flint to complement the architecture of the house. Egyptian limestone, structured evergreen planting, new lawns and generous herbaceous borders transformed the garden above, while carefully positioned screening provides privacy without enclosing the space.

A new herringbone clay-paver entrance, framed by Taxus hedging and lavender, creates a considered sense of arrival, while a restrained garden lighting scheme allows the garden to be enjoyed into the evening. Our involvement continues through seasonal horticultural maintenance, allowing the planting and wider garden to develop as it matures.

Project information

Location: Wiltshire

Project Type: Country Garden Transformation

Services: Garden Design | Landscape Construction | Soft Landscaping | Irrigation | Garden Lighting | Seasonal Maintenance

Key Elements: Brick & Knapped Flint Retaining Wall | Egyptian Limestone Terrace | Instant Taxus Hedging | Osmanthus Topiary | Semi-Mature Trees | Herbaceous Planting | Herringbone Clay-Paver Entrance

Designer: M T S Gardens & Client

Completion Date: January 2025

Photography: M T S Gardens

The Story

When we first visited Wiltshire Stables, the garden's steep levels significantly restricted how it could be used. A small paved area immediately outside the house was enclosed by terraced brick raised beds, poorly positioned hedging interrupted views across the garden, and the rough lawn beyond offered little usable space.

Yet the setting was exceptional. The house forms part of a converted stable block within a shared estate, surrounded by mature parkland. From the outset, the challenge was therefore not simply to create more space, but to do so without sacrificing the garden's relationship with the landscape beyond.

Making Space

The most significant intervention was immediately outside the house.

The existing retaining wall was pushed further into the slope, substantially increasing the usable area and creating the space required for a generous entertaining terrace. The wall was reconstructed in traditional brick and knapped flint, deliberately referencing the materials of the converted stable building so that the new construction felt appropriate to its setting.

Egyptian limestone was selected for the terrace, providing a calm, understated surface against the richer texture of the brick and flint walling.

Together, these changes fundamentally altered how the garden could be used, turning what had previously been a restricted area into a generous extension of the house.

Framing the Landscape

Above the retaining wall, our attention turned to establishing structure without creating enclosure.

Low-level instant Taxus hedging was planted around the perimeter to clearly define the garden while preserving views across the surrounding parkland. Osmanthus domes were positioned throughout the space to provide evergreen structure and repetition, complemented by new lawns and steel-edged herbaceous borders.

Privacy required a particularly careful approach. Screening was introduced only where necessary and positioned to protect the more intimate areas of the garden without visually separating the property from its wider landscape.

The result is a garden with clearly defined boundaries that rarely feels bounded.

A New Sense of Arrival

The final major landscape element was the approach to the house.

A new entrance path was constructed using clay pavers laid in a traditional herringbone pattern. Flanked by clipped Taxus hedging and lavender, it introduces a more deliberate sense of arrival while reflecting the combination of formal structure and softer planting found throughout the garden.

From the herringbone entrance to the limestone terrace, brick and flint walling and restrained evergreen structure, the material and planting palette was deliberately kept simple and cohesive.

After Dark

A considered garden lighting scheme was introduced throughout the space, extending the use and enjoyment of the garden into the evening.

Lighting was deliberately restrained, highlighting the texture of the brick and flint walling, structural planting and selected features rather than illuminating the entire garden. This creates depth and atmosphere after dark while remaining sensitive to the property's rural parkland setting.

Establishing the Garden

Our involvement at Wiltshire Stables has continued beyond construction and planting. M T S Gardens now provides seasonal maintenance and horticultural care, helping the planting establish, mature and develop while preserving the structure and views that were fundamental to the original design.

Rather than treating completion as the end of the project, this continued stewardship allows us to respond to the garden as it evolves — managing the herbaceous planting, lawns, hedging and structural forms so that the garden becomes increasingly settled within its surroundings.

Wiltshire Stables is ultimately a garden about making better use of a difficult space — creating room to live and entertain while preserving its connection to the surrounding Wiltshire landscape, and establishing a garden that continues to become richer as it matures.

Creating a garden of your own?

Whether working directly with private clients or alongside garden designers and landscape architects, we deliver landscapes from construction through planting, establishment and long-term care.