Character building

For Heidi and Michael it’s important that the hard landscaping in their garden fits in with the overall historical feel. They’ve used plain terracotta pots, chestnut fencing, gravel or cobbled paths (inset with glazed tiles by a local artist), reclaimed bricks and wood, and have created water features and planters from old stone troughs. Even using aluminium foil to scare away birds from his vegetables is too modern for Michael. Instead he sticks chicken feathers into potatoes and hangs them from branches. Not everything in their garden is as old as it seems – some pots have been smeared with fresh buttermilk and left in a shady, damp place to encourage moss – but they’ve mixed old with new to great effect, and their garden is brimming with ideas for adding characterful charm.

Here Heidi and Michael have hung a collection of cups and jugs on an old drag-harrow on the side of their tool shed, and placed an attractive old knife grinder nearby.

to paint outdoor furniture will give it a more authentic look. Heidi and Michael have painted their bench a traditional oxblood red to match the door and window.

will instantly make a structure feel as though it belongs in a garden. Michael has restored this wooden well, using old planks and a dead tree.

looks great and is both easy and affordable to install. The high tannin content of chestnut acts as a natural preservative and will deter any livestock from nibbling at it.