English Gardens: Cultivating Tranquillity in Your Backyard

The fragrance of lavender and roses in full bloom, the gentle buzzing of bees and chirruping of birds, and the symphony of colour as flowers burst into life through spring and summer. Vibrant mornings give way to tranquil afternoons in this most celebrated of outdoor sanctuaries. Set in a quintessential Cotswolds village, our latest Signature Collection home in the English countryside showcases beautifully landscaped grounds that epitomise the classic cottage garden.Read on to discover how to cultivate the tranquillity of an English garden in your own backyard.

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The storied heritage of the traditional English garden

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From humble beginnings as Mediaeval kitchen and medicinal gardens to Renaissance-infused masterpieces and homages to Versailles, centuries of deeply diverse cultural influence inform the archetypal English garden. 

Transforming the garden from a place of decorative formality to a more free-flowing, expressive space, the Landscape Movement of the early 18th century is echoed in modern landscape design principles. Step into an English cottage garden today – including the grounds of our Cotswolds abode – and you will find a blend of traditional elements and more naturalistic practices that celebrate biodiversity. Creating your own peaceful garden is about thoughtful balance.  

Cultivating tranquillity: The benefits of creating a garden sanctuary

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Evoking the captivating beauty of a Constable painting, traditional English gardens are a place of refuge, imbued with a deep sense of connection to the natural world.

Immersed in backyard tranquillity, the wellbeing benefits of spending slow days in a relaxing garden are obvious – but the science is compelling, too. According to research cited by Thrive.org, simply looking at a plant can reduce feelings of stress, anger and sadness, as well as lowering cortisol, blood pressure, pulse rate and muscle tension. 

Embrace the wellbeing-boosting benefits of whiling away an afternoon in your own backyard haven, with a few simple tips on how to create an idyllic English garden.      

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Choosing the best plants for an English garden

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A balanced blend of perennials, shrubs and climbers lend that picture-perfect quality to any cottage garden. A few of the plants that thrive best in the temperate English climate are:

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Roses

Imagine any classical English garden and the rose takes centre stage. From deep burgundy to pastel-yellow, this archetypal English bloom thrives in the British summertime sun.

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Lavender

Fragrant and vibrantly hued from early to high summer, lavender is a quintessential cottage garden perennial that will also attract precious pollinators.  

Peonies

Showier than the rose but shorter-lived, peonies bring a vivacious burst of colour with their generous blooms and diverse palette.

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Delphiniums

From deep indigo-blue through lilac and cream, a spray of delphiniums lends an enchanting, fairytale quality to English gardens in the first throes of summer.  

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Boxwoods

Mainstay of English garden borders, evergreen boxwoods can be topiaried into hedges or spectacularly imaginative designs – or left natural to lend a luscious green note.  

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Hydrangeas

Boasting big, beautifully coloured flowers in mophead or lacecap varieties, the hydrangea is a captivating addition to any English cottage garden. 

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Honeysuckle

Impart your garden sanctuary with the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle through spring and summer, whilst simultaneously creating a haven for bees and butterflies.   

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Wysteria

Epitome of the chocolate-box cottage, a cascade of wisteria brings a spellbinding mood to any English garden.   

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Clematis 

‘Queen of the climbers’, clematis has been a staple of English gardens since the mid-1800s, producing an abundance of bell-shaped flowers in every imaginable shade.

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Creating your own naturalistic garden layout

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Inspired by the natural environment and captivatingly beautiful, naturalistic planting has gained popularity in recent years – blending both aesthetic and environmental benefits. Here are our tips for embracing naturalistic garden design principles in your own tranquil backyard.

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Choose native plant species

For a thriving English garden, plant native species that are well adapted to the particular soil, water and climatic conditions of your region. Species that enjoy gloomier, more inclement weather are unlikely to do well in the southern French sun.

Embrace diversity 

Blending flora species that attract different types of wildlife encourages a flourishing ecosystem which, in turn, supports the health of your garden. 

Consider seasonal transformation

Most of us picture an English garden in the height of summer – in all its glory. Naturalistic garden design considers year-round appeal, with spring blooms, summer foliage, autumnal splendour and winter structure.

‍Complement with organic materials 

Hardscaping and mulching bring natural, textural interest to your cottage garden. Stone, wood and gravel echo the wider landscape and can be used to create paths, walls, borders and water features. 

Look to nature for inspiration

Forego uniformity in favour of an organic, free-flowing design. Look to the curves and soft edges of nature to create smooth transitions between flower beds.  

Grow your garden sustainably

Consider water management, composting and low-maintenance upkeep to create an idyllic English garden aligned with nature – and opt for organic, over chemical, intervention.

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Wildlife-friendly garden tips

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Aside from planting native and pollinator-friendly species and avoiding chemical pesticides or fertilisers, there are other ways that you can transform your own English garden into a sanctuary for wildlife.

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Create water sources and feeding stations

Water features, ponds and bird baths provide vital water sources for visiting wildlife, while discreetly placed feeders offer birds a place to stop and eat. 

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Provide shelter

Nesting boxes, ‘bee hotels’, hedges and log piles offer refuge to weary birds, insects, hedgehogs and amphibians.

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Connect habitats

Though not always possible, connecting your garden to parks and nearby green spaces – or neighbouring gardens – can provide a vital corridor through which nature can pass.     

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Leave parts of your garden to nature

Mother Nature has already perfected her design, so leaving parts of your English garden to grow wild is one of the biggest – and most beautiful – gifts you can give to wildlife. 

Inspired to cultivate the tranquillity and romance of the English country garden in your own backyard? Why not immerse yourself in the peaceful surrounds of not only our Cotswold cottage but the Tuscan countryside, French Riviera, French Alps and Mallorca, instead? Co-own an August Collection and unlock five idyllic European lifestyles, effortlessly. 

Request a brochure to discover the Collections, or schedule a call with an August Advisor and take the first step in your journey to unlocking the European dream. The enviable lifestyles of Italy, France, Spain and the UK have never been closer.