As a garden designer, Helen Allison had very strong views on what she wanted and had already drawn up a design when we first met on site. Our role was to develop the design and build the swimming pond accordingly.
It was essential that the swimming pond related to the charming cottage and the church, which overlooked the garden. This project was made more challenging by the varying levels within the garden. The proposed area for the swimming pond was significantly higher than the ground floor level of the cottage.
A series of retaining walls, constructed of brick and flint, were built on 2 sides of the swimming pond to deal with the dramatically changing levels of the site. The flint relates well to that of the church. It is not a huge space, but the aim was to use as much of it for the swimming pond as possible and the result was a 125sm swimming pond with a swimming area of 63sm. As is typical of many of our swimming ponds depth varied between 1.2 and 2.0m.
Large stepping stones sit just above the level of the water within the regeneration area and provide a beautiful feature, as well as a practical way of linking the garden to the oak deck.
In addition to the spacious deck, a jetty, together with traditional ladder steps provide an attractive feature at the far end of the swimming pond as well as access into and out of the water.
Though a challenging site, the result is a really stunning swimming pond set in the most beautiful garden.
“We are both completely bewitched by our swimming pond. It was completed in May 2019 and within hours of the plants going in damselflies and dragonflies appeared out of nowhere. The excitement levels went off the scale when we were treated to a fly-past by a kingfisher last weekend. It is the perfect stress-buster, not to mention a godsend in the current heatwave. We can thoroughly recommend Paul and his landscaping team, they are very easy to get along with, and work professionally and to a very high standard.”
Helen & Marc Allison
