MARLBOROUGH MEWS: A TROPICAL MICROCLIMATE - SMALL TROPICAL GARDEN BRIXTON

This garden underwent a comprehensive refurbishment to respond to the client's desire for a small tropical garden, an urban jungle-inspired haven in Brixton.

Reclaimed English railway sleepers and characterful block Lugano clay pavers from our supplier, London Stone, were carefully selected to define the space.

Ground-level planting beds were thoughtfully incorporated to artfully achieve visual depth and a sense of seclusion. The selection of tropical flora is key to the design, featuring a variety of tree ferns and diverse palm species, each chosen to thrive in the garden's specific sunlight conditions, from our supplier, Evergreen Exterior Services.

Designed by The Moonlight Garden Design Co. (and built by Stuart Savage Landscaping), the brief was to create a "holiday at home" vibe that looks incredible both day and night. The design utilises reclaimed oak sleeper beds to provide the necessary soil depth and drainage for exotic specimens. At the same time, a floor of white gravel bounces ambient light into the shady space. The layout focuses on "Indoor-Outdoor Flow," using architectural plants to frame the white patio doors and blur the boundary between the living room and the garden.

PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS: The submitted photos showcase the structural "backbone" of the garden. You will see the dramatic foliage of Musa basjoo (Hardy Banana) creating a canopy, underplanted with prehistoric Dicksonia antarctica (Tree Ferns) and Tetrapanax. The night renders included demonstrate the "Nocturnal Garden" lighting scheme, where uplighting on the textured trunks creates a dramatic evening atmosphere.

A complementary Spanish-mixed-gravel finish from Stone Warehouse unifies the design elements, culminating in a unique and private outdoor sanctuary.

I created the planting plan by integrating Shoot Gardening, which has made my job much easier by helping me choose the right plants for the right place.