A Perfect Garden is in the Planning!
The weather is improving outside and the garden may be increasingly on your mind. If you want your garden to be the outdoor space you’ve dreamed of, now is the time to make a start!
Due to the relatively poor weather that homeowners experience in the UK, the garden as an outside living space tends to be something that is only considered as the weather warms up in spring and summer. If you have ideas for re-developing your garden then advance planning is the secret. Given the huge cost of moving house, many homeowners are now choosing to spend the money on developing their existing houses and outdoor spaces.
There is no set blueprint for the perfect outdoor space since everyone has a bespoke set of requirements which relate to personal taste in terms of aesthetic appeal combined with the individual’s specific practical needs. However with most families tightening their belts, it is likely that homeowners will be more likely to contemplate outdoor projects that provide a definite practical solution as opposed to merely enhancing the physical beauty of the garden landscape.
Safe Play Haven?
Does the garden provide a stimulating and fun play environment that is safe for the kids? Child proofing the outdoor space spans a whole host of issues such as the review of existing perimeter fencing (how secure is it?); removal of dangerous plants / trees; replacement of chipped / broken pavers; installation of an approved children’s play surface to ensure added safety around fixed play equipment e.g. slides / swings; installation of a year round outdoor play area in the guise of a decked or paved patio.
I can’t stress enough the importance of this. Think it through carefully when designing your garden as toddlers and older children have different safety demands.
A Driveway to be Proud of!
If parking is a problem in your area, think of the peace of mind that comes with guaranteed off street parking! Knowing that you will always find a space to park at the end of a busy day can be a daily god-send so consider enhancing your property’s kerb appeal with a smart new drive, creating easy and direct (mud free) access to the house.
One important legal point is that 2008 saw the introduction of legislation stating that planning permission may be required if you are not working with a permeable driveway product.
Here Comes the Good Life
Improvements to your outdoor space may extend to the introduction of a new “grow your own” zone, designed to cut down your grocery bills whilst also reducing your family’s carbon footprint. You may also want to consider the creation of raised beds to make the art of cultivation that much easier!
Entertaining The Outdoor Way!
If you are like me then you’ll enjoy the more informal dinner party that is possible in a garden dinning area. Good lighting, practical access to the kitchen, a nice patio or decked surface and of course a lovely barbecue make this all possible. Consider every aspect of this when going through the planning stage, as it’s way more practical and economical to include this early on in the process than to add it as an after thought.
Think through everything we’ve discussed earlier and bring in the professionals to give you extra guidance and a detailed quotation for every aspect of your dream project. An anticipated time frame can also be discussed.
