Designing the garden

Our garden designer, Mike Russell, has come up with a brilliant design, inspired by the shape of a snail. It's a circular design with a curved pathway, a series of coloured timber pergola archways to create a sensory rainbow walk, a lawn, lots of different seating areas and a storytelling space. Two other features of the garden will be a large birdbath, possibly covered in mosaic tiles, and a mural against the wall of the library, which could be a tree with handprint leaves.

The design is now at Dawley library so, if you live locally, do call in and have a look. We'd welcome your feedback.

Here is a more detailed description of the main features of the plan:


Design Features
• Circular shape to new garden takes advantage of existing lawn, and planting area and enables access to all areas of garden, still allowing for lots of space for many outside activities.
• A feature curved, timber edged, all ability pathway in reclaimed paving or bound gravel approx 1.2m wide curves around the garden in a loop so all areas can be reached for easy garden care. The path has many points of interest along the route.
• A series of coloured timber pergola archways will create a secret "sensory rainbow walk"
• The existing lawn has been extended to provide space for multiple activities and gazebo.
• Seating is provided along the path, the existing fallen willow tree, a focal contemplative tree-seat around the beautiful old silver birch tree and more social benches/picnic tables on the terrace areas.
• The existing terrace is divided into two areas one could be a sheltered story telling space, with new planting in raised beds between them, linking the library to the rest of the garden.
• A feature mosaic birdbath could take a central focal position in the circular garden.

Planting
• Many existing trees and some shrubs are retained within planting areas giving instant maturity to the garden.
• Planted areas have been kept to manageable and accessible proportions throughout the garden.
• Existing trees may need some tree surgery and thinning out.
• New planting has been introduced with a wildlife attracting, woodland theme.
• A series of painted timber archways form the "sensory rainbow walk", where sensory plants are in blocks of colour, tactile foliage and scented flowers.
• New planted areas give plenty of opportunities for ideas such as veg, cut flowers, and herbs.

Nature areas
• Lots of places already exist for wildlife and new habitats and homes can be created throughout the garden.
• Bird boxes, bat boxes, hedgehog homes and habitat piles can be installed in existing trees and on walls etc.
• A boggy area rather than a pond can easily be incorporated.

Arts & Crafts
• The blank wall of the library is an ideal place for a painted or tile mural. Idea for a tree with
handprint leaves is shown on plan.
• The "sensory rainbow walk" can include natural and handmade chimes etc.
• The birdbath could be an arts project with tile
mosaic fixed to a concrete birdbath.
• A carving or other piece of art could take a focal position opposite the doorway set back near the wall.
• Walls can be re-pointed then painted with a wildlife theme.