Zoe Kilbride Garden Design
Tired Front Garden - Bishop's Stortford
The brief for this project was to develop a planting plan for a north-facing garden, with a focus on achieving a Mediterranean-inspired atmosphere that offered year-round interest and required minimal maintenance.
The design combined modern, architectural planting forms with a warm, uplifting palette of reds, oranges, and yellows to bring energy and cohesion to the space. To address the need for privacy from neighbouring properties, a bay hedge was introduced to provide effective screening while maintaining a soft, natural feel.
The result is a balanced and contemporary planting scheme that thrives in lower light conditions, with strong seasonal structure and a sense of warmth throughout the year.
“With this garden, plant choice was absolutely key. North-facing spaces can be challenging, but by selecting species that thrive in lower light — and layering foliage textures with warm-toned blooms — we were able to create a scheme that feels both vibrant and balanced. I used evergreens to provide structure throughout the year, and introduced splashes of red, orange, and yellow through carefully chosen perennials and shrubs. It’s a great example of how thoughtful planting can bring warmth and colour to even the shadiest of spaces.”
— Zoe Kilbride, Garden Designer