Herringbone in a Quarry Courtyard

This small courtyard in Quarry, Headington needed something with real detail and quality. Now, with hand-crafted herringbone limestone setts, it has a truly bespoke finish.

The natural limestone has brightened the space beautifully, while the herringbone pattern adds character and interest. Traditional, welcoming and made to feel completely at home in its surroundings.

Front Garden, Cholsey, Oxfordshire

Designed by Rory Andrews, this front garden in Cholsey, Oxfordshire, has been transformed from an unsuitable, concrete-dominated space into a welcoming garden for sitting, relaxing and entertaining.

The garden catches the evening sun, so an important part of the design was creating a comfortable place where the clients could unwind at the end of the day — and enjoy cocktails in the evening sunshine.

Working with the character of the property was central to the project. Reclaimed materials were used throughout, together with traditional construction methods, including lime mortar. Reclaimed Yorkstone steps were individually hand-fettled on site, while the mild steel edging was also fabricated on site to create crisp, understated definition within the garden.

New trees and carefully considered planting soften the hard landscaping and bring structure, texture and seasonal interest to the space.

The result is a front garden that feels entirely at home with the property — a relaxed and inviting space shaped by traditional materials, skilled craftsmanship and thoughtful planting.

Oxfordshire Townhouse Garden

This townhouse garden in the heart of Oxfordshire underwent a complete transformation. Designed by Chloe Wood Garden Design, the brief was to create a garden that felt genuinely connected to the property — now described by the owners as “an extension of the house.”

Van den Mortel clay pavers were used throughout, bringing warmth and character to the garden, with steel edging used to define the borders and form crisp detailing to the step risers. Self-binding gravel adds another texture and helps give the garden a relaxed but beautifully considered finish.

New hedging, trees and generous planting were introduced to soften the space and create a greater sense of privacy and maturity. A new shed was incorporated into the design alongside bespoke batten trellis fencing, ensuring the practical elements of the garden sit comfortably within the overall scheme.

A full in-lite garden lighting system completes the transformation, highlighting the planting, pathways and architectural details after dark.

The result is a sophisticated yet welcoming townhouse garden — carefully detailed, beautifully planted and, most importantly, a natural extension of the home.

The project was Highly Commended at the Pro Landscaper Awards 2026 — a fantastic recognition of the design, landscaping and craftsmanship that went into creating this garden.

Grand Designs Featured Project

Originally featured on Grand Designs in 2014/2015, this remarkable property provided the setting for a particularly challenging and rewarding landscaping project. Shire Scapes was contracted to update and rework the original landscaping, bringing a fresh finish to the outside spaces while respecting the character of the original Grand Designs project.

The existing decking throughout was removed and replaced with porcelain pathways, creating a cleaner and more contemporary finish around the property. A new raised composite deck was constructed to provide a generous seating and entertaining area, finished with a glass balustrade to retain the views and open feel of the setting.

The front entrance was also completely reimagined, creating a much stronger arrival and improving the connection between the house and its surrounding landscape.

What really sets this project apart, however, was the challenge of its location. With extremely restricted access, the landscaping had to be completed by hand, with materials brought in over the lock. This required considerable planning, hard work and craftsmanship from the team.

The result is a striking update to an already unique 'floating property, with the new landscaping providing a practical, contemporary finish worthy of its exceptional setting.

This garden in Pangbourne was designed by Helen Parsons and brought to life by the Shirescapes team.

The project included a high-end Millboard deck built over multiple levels, alongside porcelain paving throughout the garden. Clay pavers were incorporated into the paving and also used to edge pathways and planting areas, adding warmth and definition to the overall design.

With a number of established trees within the garden, much of the work around the planting areas was carried out using a ‘no dig’ approach to minimise disturbance to the existing root systems.

The finished garden was furnished with stylish outdoor furniture, creating comfortable areas to sit, relax and enjoy the garden.

Award-Winning Garden – APL Awards 2026

Designed by Chloe Wood Garden Design, this garden was completely transformed to create a generous and beautifully finished space for family life and entertaining.

New riven random Yorkstone paving is complemented by clay pavers running throughout the garden, bringing warmth, character and detail to the hard landscaping. Original dry stone walling was carefully reclaimed from the site and reused alongside new natural Cotswold stone, helping the new garden feel established and sympathetic to its surroundings.

Extensive groundworks were undertaken to reshape the existing levels and create the large formal lawn, providing a strong centrepiece to the garden. Mass planting and carefully positioned new trees soften the landscaping and bring structure, colour and interest throughout the space.

The finished garden is a fantastic place for the family to relax, entertain and enjoy together — combining traditional materials with beautiful planting and exceptional craftsmanship.

The project went on to win Best in Category at the prestigious APL Awards 2026, a fantastic recognition of the design, landscaping and attention to detail throughout.