This challenging north facing front garden is in full shade and was previously a patch of struggling lawn. The brief was to make it as colourful and textured as possible for most of the year. My design is inspired by woodlands using a matrix of perennials, shrubs, bulbs and annual self-seeders creating a dense, low-maintenance plant community that changes through the seasons and always has something in flower. It is incredibly wildlife friendly as a result and is now in its third year. Over time a number of interesting shrubs and climbers will bring some height and further flowering impact without creating additional shade. The owner is a private tutor and has families with young children visiting regularly, so I felt lots of fun colour, wildlife and a garden that changed through the seasons was important.
