A memorial garden idea from The Essex Garden Co

All gardens are important, but some carry extra emotional significance. Take a tour of a sensitive memorial garden idea realised by Essex Garden Company.

When Essex Garden Company were commissioned by their client Marion to create a garden, it combined an unusual request. Not only did it need to comfortably accommodate family gatherings, but she also wanted it to be a sanctuary where she could remember her late husband.

Marion and her husband had lived previously on a two-acre property with long walkways of brick paving and planting in abundance. After her husband died, Marion moved to a new-build in Halstead.

Clay pavers as a warm reminder

Brick had been a feature of her old garden and part of the attraction of the new property was that the garages on either side created lovely brick wall boundaries. To complement these, Essex Garden Company (EGC) chose Cotswold clay pavers. These are part of our Cottage Garden collection and are laid flat, rather than on edge, which creates a particularly traditional feel. They were laid in a herringbone pattern and Marion loved them because they reminded her of the brick walkways at her previous home.

Porcelain paving for easy maintenance

To make the garden more manageable for Marion and to maximise the space available for entertaining in a garden that was so much smaller than her previous one, EGC created a design without turf. Instead, the clay pavers divided areas of Venetian Beige porcelain paving, chosen from our Italian Budget range.

Clay and porcelain make an excellent design combo, and Marion’s garden is a prime example. Both require very little maintenance, being very dense and stain-resistant. However, the natural brick enhances Venetian Beige’s natural stone appearance and blends the man-made slabs seamlessly into the design, which majors on organic and natural-looking materials such as wood and rattan.

Look closely and you’ll see that the EGC have laid paving at a 45-degree angle to the back of the house. It's a lovely, subtle detail that adds visual interest and directional contrast. The porcelain slabs have also been cut to different lengths. This gives the paving a more relaxed, natural feel, while at the same time maintaining the straight courses that echo those in the adjacent brick walls and contrast so well with the zigzag pattern of the clay pavers.

A focal point

The most important element of the garden was the placing of the garden urn as a memorial to Marion’s late husband. In it were laid his ashes. This is at the centre of a symmetrically paved area - calm focal point next to where Marion sits. A particularly lovely touch is the gothic-arch mirror. This adds a sense of space by “perforating” one of the bordering garage walls, and makes it possible to see the urn’s reflection when seated at a different angle.

A gentle reminder

Finally, the soft landscaping was absolutely key to the design. Essex Garden Company spent time with Marion looking through old photographs of her previous garden. In this way, they identified plants that Marion liked. The new planting replicates that of her old garden, completing its design as a memorial garden and maintaining a direct connection to one of the many things she shared enjoyment of with her husband.

With thanks to The Essex Garden Co for help with this article.