Huddersfield Daily Examiner

So many people turn their front gardens into ugly concrete car parks – but there are far kinder ways to build a drive

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FRONT gardens are the best way to make a stunning first impression to visitors, to welcome you home after a hard day’s work or as the first thing you see as you step outside your home in the morning.

Unfortunat­ely, across the country, record numbers are being lost to a tidal wave of slabs and concrete.

The fact is that, as a lowmainten­ance alternativ­e, many people opt for a paved driveway out of convenienc­e, or to provide an off-road space for their car.

There are currently more than 38 million licensed vehicles on the UK’s roads. Fifty years ago, there were only 11 million. That’s where our front gardens have gone.

But, while a paved-over front garden may be convenient when we have a busy lifestyle and little time to spare, the benefits of a real garden are tremendous. Our mental health, community and natural environmen­t are all positively affected.

SLAB SOLUTIONS

WHAT if I told you that you don’t have to compromise? That you can have both a functional driveway while keeping the beauty and the benefits of a flourishin­g front garden.

It may seem tricky to keep space for your car and maintain lawn space and greenery but some tips to switch up your design mean you get the best of both worlds.

Putting in two paving tracks to accommodat­e your car is one compromise and you can plant hardy, low-growing plants around them.

There are even plants that will tolerate being parked over, as long as the car is moved regularly so they get some light.

Creeping jenny is a good pick because it is tough enough to withstand occasional­ly being run over. It is low growing and likes a sunny or part-shaded spot, so just ensure there is a planting pocket with soil to suit it.

Another solution is concrete block paving with spaces in it (Pavestone makes a product called GrassPark which is ideal).

It provides a robust hard-standing suitable for cars and vans to be parked on, while also maintainin­g a permeable surface for grass or plants.

A permeable paving option like this, or gravel or brick pavers, enables water to drain through the surface and reduces the chance of flooding.

WHILE many people will opt for a paved front garden due to wanting a low-maintenanc­e option, there are in fact many plants that are tough, don’t demand a lot of you and will thrive, despite little attention.

If you’ve got a sheltered spot somewhere that’s overly shaded and you can’t find anything that will fit, try variegated Japanese laurel which is an evergreen, so it will grace your garden with colour all year round with its glossy green leaves speckled with cream and yellow.

Or for some fiery, vibrant foliage, Heuchera (coral bells) provide colour almost all year round with wavyedged leaves that can be found in green, bronze, purple or chocolate shades. Neither needs a lot of love to thrive.

For dull corners, plant up perennials like hardy Geranium

 ??  ?? Surround your drive with thick foliage and opt for gravel where possible
Surround your drive with thick foliage and opt for gravel where possible
 ??  ?? Climbers use every bit of space, including vertical
Climbers use every bit of space, including vertical
 ??  ?? Roses and lavender brighten up any space
Roses and lavender brighten up any space

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