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RHS Chelsea Garden Show 2006 - Silver Medal Winner!
City gardens - Ian Rochead’s Landscape Design Service The City Workers Retreat
Designer: Ian Rochead
Contractor: Chris Stone of Bushy Business
Thought Behind the Garden
This is a modern contemporary garden for city workers to enjoy, relax and entertain in at the end of a hardworking day. Ian Rochead, the garden designer, is just 20 years old and says that he was inspired to create this garden for city dwellers who say they haven’t got time to spend in the garden or that their garden is too small to do anything in.
The City Workers Retreat aims to be a low maintenance garden and is planted for ease of maintenance whilst still achieving all year round interest.
The garden is based around a raised seating area, which is enclosed by a Taxus baccata (Yew) hedge, supplied from InstaHedge. Modern materials in the garden include a glass wall and five big stainless steel raised planters. A paved walkway leads to the entertaining area, which has been built from smooth slate slabs, which was also supplied by InstaHedge. In the entertaining area there are two rendered walls, which are neutral in colour, to maximize the colour of the structural plants.
A seating area and a small table provide a place to dine, while internet connections and outdoor power provide vital connections for laptops. Under-deck lighting provides the perfect setting for late evening entertaining and the gentle sound of the cascading water and the rustling of the Phyllostachys nigra create a relaxing environment.
Ian Rochead’s Landscape Design Services is based in Woking, Surrey but carries out work throughout the South East. Ian’s design style is very much modern and contemporary but also enjoys designing traditional garden both informal and formal.
For More Information Contact: Tel: 01483 766643 Mobile: 0779113107 E-mail:
