info@ironorchid.co.uk
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Projects
Bosanath
Spring 2012
'This major granite wall project took place in a deep valley near the Helford River. The remote location meant that over 20 tonnes of granite stone had to be delivered via tractor and trailer down the narrow, steep lanes. The granite was sourced from an old Mabe quarry. The stone was quarried and cut by hand over 200 years ago and was hidden under gorse until now. A fortuitous find just at the right time. It's a double tiered retaining wall for a parking bay at a B&B. The client wanted to retain and compliment the rustic charm of the existing stone work and surroundings of the ancient mill. The construction is a traditional Cornish 'hedging' style of just the stone and earth. The concave, crescent form of the wall makes for a very, strong structure rather like an arch and also has the aesthetic atmosphere of an amphitheatre. Old stone like this is a treat to work with, both the client and myself were delighted with the out come!'
Carew House
Spring 2011
'This design was created to both maximise turning and parking space for cars and to separate the drive from the garden. A simple combination of granite chips and setts were used to make smooth sweeping curves on the drive and to retain the beds. An existing roundabout with a single weeping pear and large quartz boulders was reduced in size and moved back to allow cars to turn but maximising garden space. The planting used provides colour through the year with several species of camelias and rhododendrons for early blooms and a lavender hedge with Cosmos, Salvia and Kniphofia taking it through the summer. The roundabout has a hot, dry planting scheme - Ceanothus, creeping rosemary, Convolvulus cneorum, Santolina and Osteospermum.'
The first two photos are 'before and after'.
Rosemergy, Chapel Porth
Autumn 2007
An ambitious and comtempory extension of a traditional Cornish stone cottage was complimented with exquisite reclaimed Yorkstone flags and curved stone walls. This site is a sheltered gem on Cornwall’s harsh north coast which was originally the home of a Covent Garden flower grower.
Glebe House, Probus
Summer 2006
Total re-landscaping of the south facing, front aspect of this old rectory in mid Cornwall. A sea of monotonous gravel was transformed into intriguing terraces with a sweeping rope top edge driveway, slate patio and paths and stone planters.
Trescobeas, Falmouth
Summer 2010
Built by Linear Studio interior designer, Kathryn Tyler, this new house featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs was inspired by Swedish architectural style. It has a fantastic warm sheltered south aspect which enabled the planting of tender, exotic species to compliment the striking design of the building. The roof terrace is planted with other worldly succulents such as Echiverias, Sempervivums and trailing Sedums. The ground level planters featured Aeoniums, grasses and a specimen Magnolia grandiflora.
Stone Trough, Newent, Gloucestershire
Winter 2007
This ancient stone trough was dug out, jacked and winched up out of where it lay dormant and made into a focus point of a courtyard garden. A hard slog of old school engineering but Calum’s Spanish windlass paid off!
Chynance Drive, Newquay
Spring 2008
This uncared for garden of overgrown chaos and mess was transformed to a very low maintenance, simple outdoor space for a holiday house in Newquay.
Mount Wise Drive, Newquay
Spring 2007
A modern and low maintenance garden with sun soaked slate terrace and water feature.
Stone Trough, Newent, Gloucestershire
Winter 2007
This ancient stone trough was dug out, jacked and winched up out of where it lay dormant and made into a focus point of a courtyard garden. A hard slog of old school engineering but Calum’s Spanish windlass paid off!
Apple Trees, Truro
Summer 2011
An ambitious, extensive and diverse project in collaboration with MOR Design, Falmouth on a recently modernised bungalow with a large surrounding garden close to the centre of Truro.
The elliptical deck was laid with moulded recycled plastic boards in an antique oak effect.
Another ellipse was set out on the other side of the property with curved concrete walls and a slate stone terrace sown with thyme seeds.
Chapel Hill, Newquay
Winter 2011/12
A small town centre garden was transformed from a 1950's concrete yard to a low maintenance, contemporary space with octagonal sun deck and raised planting for a young professional couple to entertain the young bloods of Newquay.
Roscarrack Vean
Autumn 2011
We were honoured to be asked by oak framer, Rufus Maurice, to build the low stone walls for this green oak timber framed barn near Budock Water.
Locally sourced old quarried stone was used to provide an aged mellow feel to the work.
The arched gothic window provides a perfect frame for the view from the porcelain throne!
Rose-in-Vale, Mithian
Winter/Spring 2011/12
This place is a real gem; sheltered, timeless and secluded near the wind swept North Coast.
We were asked to provide a sun terrace cut into the steep valley garden with complimentary planting. A ‘star-burst', elliptical shape was designed using slate stone.The low slate wall seat is backed by an aromatic herb bed.
A woodland style garden climbs up the side of the valley. The overgrown trees and shrubs had to be hard pruned to promote regeneration and let the sunlight back in.
Swanpool, Falmouth
Summer 2012
These winding brick paths flow like streams through a beautiful, established garden on a sheltered south facing slope in Falmouth.
A careful and considered method had to be adopted not to damage the existing planting structure. We reused several tonnes of gravel as a base from the old paths. A 'sawtooth' edging was employed to retain the bricks and beds on both sides.
The paths terminate at an intricate cobbled ‘wheel' which involved a fair bit of engineering (thanks Martin!) and painstaking cobbling with small pebbles set in mortar. This work was carried out in the hottest week of the summer!
