Owl’s Nest, Gwithian

A low maintenance garden for this new-build eco surf shack, designed by Studio Gather and built by Burroughs Construction. Completed July 2023. 

Owl’s Nest is in a really special spot backing onto Upton Towans which falls within a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and is owned by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. In the original design, most of the garden was given over to native tree and shrub planting to increase the biodiversity and wildlife habitat, in the remaining space I created a secluded garden for eating and relaxing.

An important part of the brief was to ensure that the garden works with the architecture to settle the house into the landscape, and that the planting blends effortlessly from Cornish sub-tropical at the front, through the wild native planting and out onto the sand dunes. Rugged timber and soft natural stone will incorporate pockets of planting, drought and salt tolerant to withstand the coastal conditions, to give the impression that the garden has been here for years. Coming back from the beach in the evening, magical lighting will draw the visitor home to enjoy warm summer nights on the terrace, the hooded LED lighting minimising light pollution.