Design ideas James Alexander-Sinclair considers the concepts of alpine gardens and rockeries
If your garden needs a retaining wall, then why not forget dinky brickwork and railway sleepers, and go with large rocks instead? The main caveat is that it works best where you are surrounded by crags and mountains – as here in this Paul Broadhurstdesigned garden on the shores of Lake Washington – and is not quite as effective in Surrey. You also need to make sure that you employ the services of a very good stonemason.