Garden landscaping project in Heeley, Sheffield
Garden Transformation
This garden transformation has made such a huge difference to my client’s life — and it’s projects like this that really inspire me.
The existing garden was unsightly, uneven, and not a very inviting space to spend time in. When I first met with my client, we talked about how she wanted to use the garden and what kind of design she liked.
We agreed that the first step was to remove the old fence and create a stylish new boundary that would act as a backdrop to the rest of the garden. The new fence was designed with a traditional feel but clean, contemporary lines. It was custom built on site using planed 4×3” treated posts, clad horizontally with 4×1” P.S.E. treated boards, and finished at an average height of 1.5m.
While working on the fence, I had the chance to really get a feel for the garden — to see how the sun moved throughout the day and where the best spots would be to relax.
My client had a tight budget for this project, so after a few more discussions about the overall look and feel, I set out to design a budget-friendly garden that made the most of every bit of space. This was presented to my client a plan view drawing and gave her the vision to go ahead with the project.
To help stretch the budget further, I decided to shorten the garden slightly by creating a utility area at the far end. I levelled the ground and reused the existing gravel from the rest of the garden. This space was then screened off with a bespoke contemporary screen made from planed 2×1” horizontal battens — creating a neat, practical area for a shed, gardening tools, and plant pots.
The main garden was designed around three key areas. The first was the morning sun deck, which leads straight from the patio doors — a three-tiered timber deck cascading down the slope to create usable, level spaces. It’s perfect for morning coffee in the sun or a shady evening meal.
The deck was constructed from 6×2” treated timber, secured with larch posts set into postcrete, and finished with traditional treated decking boards. Within the decking, I left a large section for a flower bed and small wildlife pond — a simple way to keep costs low while adding greenery and life to the space.
To deal with the uneven levels, I used English larch sleepers along the fence line. These formed raised beds and also acted as retaining walls, helping to level out the garden and add structure.
In front of the garden screen, I built a reclaimed York stone patio using the stone that was already in the old garden — another great way to save money and add character. The patio catches the late afternoon and evening sun, making it the perfect spot for after-work drinks. It’s surrounded by raised larch sleeper beds which, once the plants mature, will create a private little sanctuary for summer evenings.
Between the decking and patio, the largest section of the garden was levelled, raked smooth, and laid with new turf. Turf is an affordable and effective way to bring instant greenery and softness to a garden, tying all the areas together beautifully.
There was barely any waste on this project — most of the earth was reused to level and fill raised beds, and materials were repurposed wherever possible. It turned out to be not only a beautiful garden on a small budget, but also a wonderfully sustainable project that makes every part of the space feel loved and used again.
