“I wanted to create the feel of a secret English garden; I like things that are old and romantic”
There’s no knowing what lies hidden behind the impersonal facade of a Victorian terrace in South East London, so the first glimpse of Will Jennings’ intimate back garden is rather breathtaking, with its billowing, blushing roses and the scent of myrrh lingering in the air. “I wanted to create the feel of a secret English garden; I like things that are old and romantic, and roses live up to that billing,” says Will, who has created this miniature marvel in a Lilliputian space.
The garden’s style is distinctly ‘Malvern Hills’. It is a scheme that somehow feels at once abundantly planted and spacious. “I’ve covered the boundaries and filled in corners, training roses and clematis upwards to add height,” explains Will. In so doing, he has chosen pastels over reds and oranges. “I love hot colours, but in a small garden they jump out, making the space feel a bit chaotic.”
