A tale of TWO HALVES

Buying the property next door to their home allowed a couple to create a new garden filled with a mosaic of flower borders, lush lawn and tranquil woodland walks

- ZIA ALLAWAY

THE STORY behind the tranquil garden at Longwood is a tale of two halves and began when owners Mandy and Andy Summers bought the property next door to their main residence, with the idea of making the mid-century house into an annex, where they could swim, exercise and accommodate visitors in style and comfort.

‘We live in a new house, which we built on the plot next to Longwood about 13 years ago,’ explains Mandy. ‘Then, in 2015, our neighbour's property came on the market and we decided to buy it, with a plan to renovate the house, add an indoor swimming pool extension and create a new garden to complement our existing one, but with a style and character of its own.’ The couple called in landscape architects Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson who had so expertly designed their first garden, with its dew pond, flower borders and dry gravel garden. ‘We were so happy with our existing garden and knew that Gavin and Andrew would come up with something equally special for Longwood,’ she adds.