A love of travel leads to Moorish drama
John Tordoff Cambridge Garden size 4.7m x 8.3m
What was once a derelict yard, filled with junk, now transports you to the courtyards of Spain and Morocco. The theatrical, home-made arch screen, instantly transforms the space and hides the bins and shed. Combined with the tiled floor, they form the dramatic backdrop to the colourful planting. Cleverly positioned mirrors, including one behind the screen, make the tiny space seem larger than it is. The garden is packed full of plants, growing in pots and in narrow borders. John (on the left) has even made room for a small pool, with a jet of burbling water, to complete the Moorish effect. He found the tiles that line the pool while on holiday, and brought them home in his hand luggage.
What have you done to make the garden?
I wanted to create a space where anyone, including me, would be transported out of the UK to somewhere more exotic. As the plot is so small, I felt I had to think in terms of a courtyard garden – like those in Morocco or Southern Spain. The screen gives the garden the Moorish appearance I was after and conceals the service area with the tool shed and our bins. The screen was designed and built by me, using plastic drainpipes for the columns and sheets of marine ply and aluminium for the arches. I knew that no Moorish garden would be complete without the sound of splashing water, so had to find room for a small pool. The tiles to line the bottom of the pool were found in Rajasthan and brought back in our hand luggage. Large mirrors make the space appear bigger, while the mosaics, made by my partner Maurice, add to the garden’s Moorish style.
Have you had any help?
The structure of cement blocks for the garden seat and adjoining water feature, were put in by a local builder to my design. But my chief help and support is my partner, who takes charge of the watering.
What have been the biggest challenges?
Because the flowerbeds are less than a metre wide, I found it difficult to achieve height and colour at the back. So I had a local ironmonger make four stands, comprising a metal pole to drive into the bed, topped by a metal plate with a central spike, which goes through the hole in the base of a plant pot. These raised pots really work.
What do you love most about your garden?
It may sound strange, but my favourite part of the garden is our sitting room. With the folding doors fully open, the indoors and the out really do become one.
This type of garden is incredibly difficult to get right, but John’s managed it – the drama of it all is simply wonderful Diarmuid Gavin