The walled garden at Markshall Estate, Essex
The walled garden at Markshall Estate, Essex
A modern garden designed as the flagship visitor attraction within a mature arboretum
Location Essex, UK
The estate’s historic walled garden possesses a grand yet subtle beauty. Enclosed on three sides by four-metre-tall, 18th-century brickwork, the boundary opens dynamically on its southern side to overlook an expansive lake.
To drive visitor engagement, the trustees commissioned a design that would act as a 'honey pot' attraction within the wider arboretum.
BHS LA responded to this dramatic setting by creating an immersive landscape built around a sense of discovery.
Set behind a massive 150-metre-long hornbeam hedge, four distinct garden rooms were established to celebrate the microclimate of the sloping, south-facing topography.
The northern boundary features a spectacular 150-metre double herbaceous border - the longest in Essex. Plants were selected to be climate change resilient. Essex's dry climate, is closer to Mediterranean Basin precipitation that average UK rainfall.
The horticultural scheme prioritises mid-to-late flowering perennials, structural ornamental grasses, and Mediterranean shrubs. Plants were selected with sturdy and decorative seed heads for a dramatic autumn and winter show.
Client Marks Hall Estate Trust
Planning Authority Braintree District Council
Status Completed - 2003