Glengarriff Hilltop Haven
An escape on the Wild Atlantic Way
Step inside this space
A home from home to soak up the fresh air, forage for flavours from the surrounding land & sea & share feasts with family & friends. Two Green Shoots worked with this family to transform their 3/4 acre site into eight distinct gardens taking inspiration from the sea to weave the spaces together through a series of curves, waves & elegant planting palate of both edible & wildlife friendly botanicals.
The re-imagining process
Dig deeper & explore how this space was transformed..
The Space
A sloping 3/4 acre site with the most spectacular views out over Glengarriff Bay & beyond! Most of the site was previously fenced off & used for cutting silage.
The Client Brief
“We’ve focused on renovating the main farmhouse to date & now need a cohesive plan for the gardens. Our wish list includes a shared outdoor eating space surrounded by herbs, hedging to divide & create distinct spaces, an orchard, a play area for the children, a private space to site a bell tent to welcome friends and family for Summer glamping. While keen to get learn and get stuck into some gardening with the children, we don’t have much spare time so need a low maintenance design. We really love cooking using fresh, seasonal and always eager to try new things so having a backbone of edibles through the garden would be fantastic.”
The Design Process
This client choose Design Package 3 – Design & Plan which includes:
In-depth Site Survey & Pre-Design Consultation
Draft Concept Design & mood boards
Final Design Master Plan (to scale)
Design Realisation Guide.
Design Presentation & Consultation
The Build
These clients happened to be professional builders & carpenters so chose to lead on some elements of the design implementation themselves. Two Green Shoots managed the delivery of the overall project, site layouts, all planting & ongoing maintenance. As with all of the teams projects – sustainability is central to the design, build & future life of the space. To give a few examples from the build phase of this garden:- Almost all of the rock used in the edging, surfacing & feature boulders was either discovered on the site during excavations or came from a local quarry & nearby farm. The bark chip was produced during tree works on-site with the rest from another site in Glengarriff. Finally, all existing plants were creatively re-incorporated into the new planting schemes.
Client Testimonial
“For a year or two prior to approaching Two Green Shoots we had been very overwhelmed by the size of our garden. It was just under an acre and in order to minimise work we placed a fence down the middle, left one side as a field and the rest as a mowed lawn. We highlighted areas of the garden with a few plant pots and some raised beds. We planted a few shrubs, some survived but others did not. We created awkward spaces that didn’t flow, most elements were unfinished and quite frankly boring. Our garden looked sad and in need of help.
We didn’t know what to do with the space. Our garden had a number of challenges. Not only was it a large site, but it was also quite exposed. Any planting or structures within our garden would need to withstand strong wind and rain. With this in mind we began researching local landscapers with experience and knowledge of how to overcome these challenges.
We were immediately drawn to Two Green Shoots. We wanted a garden that enhanced our view and offered a variety of fun spaces for both children and adults. As we have a keen interest in cooking, we also wanted plenty of edible fruits, herbs and vegetables. From my first conversation with Kloe I knew that she understood our requirements and I was excited by her enthusiasm and passion for her work.
Both Kloe and Adam met us onsite and we discussed the project with them. Rather than holding back we gave them a very comprehensive wish list. To top it off, we wanted the garden to require very little maintenance. They didn’t appear fazed by our long list of requirements and when they presented us with their final design it was far and beyond anything we expected. We were immediately blown away by their ideas and attention to detail. They included all of the items on our wish list and more. Along with the design drawings they also provided a comprehensive breakdown of how to implement their ideas.
Although we were very excited by the design, we were also overwhelmed by the work involved. We didn’t have enough experience to complete the design ourselves. We asked Kloe and Adam to manage the project for us. Unfortunately, at this time we entered our first lockdown. We were worried that this might delay the project but Kloe and Adam rose quickly to the challenge. From start to finish they worked tirelessly to ensure that the garden was completed on time and within budget. During the project there were lots of setbacks due to COVID-19 restrictions. Sourcing materials and plants was sometimes difficult but Kloe and Adam communicated with us and reassured us every step of the way.
The implementation of the project involved people across a number of trades. Kloe and Adam ensured that all work necessary was communicated clearly. Any issues that arose were solved and managed appropriately. They also ensured that there was little waste on site. All previously planted shrubs and structures were reused where possible.
One of the key moments during the project was the removal of the fence that had been dividing up our garden. The idea of this evoked anxiety but rather than question Kloe and Adam we felt that we needed to put our trust in them as professional garden designers. After all we had asked for their help. It would be foolish not to accept it. As soon as the fence was removed it immediately altered the feel of our garden. A small change made a massive difference. From then on, every change made was refreshing. The garden was beginning to come to life and we could really see and trust in Kloe and Adam’s vision.
Although we have yet to complete all of the elements of Kloe and Adams design the majority of the work was finished at the end of July this year. We have been absolutely blown away by the results to date. It is far and beyond anything we could have wished for. We now have so many different areas within the garden to explore. Everywhere you look there are fantastic edible treats and an incredible aroma. The garden is now vibrant and full of life. As a family we have gained so much from this experience. The garden offers something for everyone, young and old. Even the wild animals appreciate Kloe and Adam’s design. The open design has encouraged deer, rabbits, pine martins and lots and lots of bees and butterflies back into the garden.
Kloe and Adam were exceptional to work with from start to finish. We cannot recommend them highly enough. They are both incredibly hard-working people who care very deeply for their work. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience and bring so much joy to their work that it is infectious. As a family with three young kids Kloe and Adam were extremely patient and kind to the kids who were often intrigued by the work they were doing on site. They took the time to answer their questions and taught them how to sow seeds and plant flowers. Not only did the kids learn from them but they also took the time to explain to us how to maintain our garden going forward. No question we had was ever too small.
