GET OUTSIDE!

Food and fun are the hallmarks of this plant-filled family garden

Getting up close and personal with nature, growing food for the family and enjoying time outdoors were the goals that inspired the creation of this garden that adjoins a character home in Sydney's Inner West. Featuring a large lawn for sports (and cartwheels!), a stone pizza oven and a thriving veggie garden, this beautiful backyard ticks all the boxes.

"This family had a passion for growing their own produce and connecting with nature, as well as having fun in the garden, so our design needed to encourage a life outside for the complete family to enjoy," says Steve Warner, principal designer and founder of OUTHOUSE design.

"We needed to create a space for them to come together, while still having different activity zones and, of course, a trampoline. Creating a garden for different ages has its challenges, so seeking input from all to ensure everyone's needs were met was crucial."

These needs were diverse and included creating a lawn that was large enough for play; using the microclimates to best advantage for food production, installing an outdoor pizza oven and fireplace; and retaining a storage shed while ensuring it integrated into the new garden design.

As you step into the garden, the circular feature lawn, with its recycled-brick edging, creates a compelling focal point from which all sorts of activity zones seem to radiate. Its shape allows for deep garden borders while connecting paths link it to the various areas within the backyard.