Garden of Remembrance

An Arts and Crafts–inspired small garden in Cobham, Surrey, transforming a narrow plot into a private, planting-led sanctuary rich in memory and meaning.

Cobham Garden Design – A Personal Arts and Crafts Garden of Remembrance

This long, narrow garden on Anyards Road in Cobham, Surrey was once an overgrown mess, and although popular with wildlife and birds, it offered little opportunity for human use. Dominated by a large eucalyptus tree and sections of laurel hedging, the space felt inaccessible and disconnected from the house.

The brief was deeply personal. The client wanted to create a garden in remembrance of his mother’s much-loved garden, honouring her memory while providing a place of comfort, reflection, and new memories. Sustainability was also a key consideration, along with a desire for Arts and Crafts detailing and a strong sense of intimacy.

Working within the constraints of the site, including a garage spanning the full five-metre width at the far end and a significant step up from the house terrace, the garden was reorganised into a series of circular forms. These gently define the space into subtle zones, helping the narrow plot feel layered and purposeful rather than linear.

Existing paving stones were recycled to form the lower terrace, complemented by tile-crested radial steps that introduce traditional craftsmanship and visual softness. A shallow rill runs across the garden through a pebble-inlaid paved area, adding sound, movement, and atmosphere.

An oak-framed garden building was constructed against the garage, creating a secluded writer’s retreat with a small radial terrace for quiet moments. Carefully chosen trees — including Acer palmatum ‘Scolopendrifolium’, Lagerstroemia indica ‘Rosea’, and Cornus florida ‘Rubra’, provide privacy and screening without overwhelming the space.

Underplanting blends perennials, grasses, and small shrubs, while fences are clothed with roses, wisteria, and evergreen jasmine for scent and year-round interest. Re-roofing the garage and renewing boundary fences ensured privacy, with dark-painted fencing allowing planting and sculpture to take centre stage.

The finished garden is refined, intimate, and deeply personal, a sanctuary that quietly celebrates memory, craftsmanship, and the restorative power of plants.