Garden Design
Garden Design in Stowlangtoft, Suffolk
Location: Stowlangtoft, Suffolk
A bespoke family garden designed for functionality, accessibility and everyday enjoyment. Carefully planned zones for play, relaxing and entertaining are combined with durable materials and low-maintenance planting that will grow with the family over time.
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Overview
In this Stowlangtoft garden, the brief was to create a practical yet beautiful outdoor space for a young family. They wanted a garden that would feel welcoming and usable every day, with safe areas for the children to play, space for outdoor dining and room for the layout to adapt as their needs evolve.
Improving access and making better use of the available space were key priorities. The garden needed clearly defined zones for different activities while still feeling open, connected and easy to maintain, with a strong emphasis on durability and year-round appeal.
- Split-level layout with patio, decking and lawn.
- Dedicated children’s play area with soft, impact-absorbing surface.
- Low-maintenance, family-friendly planting with year-round structure.
Family terrace & decking
The new layout begins with a patio that draws you out into the garden and opens up the space, making every inch work harder. Limestone paving, a bespoke pergola and a retaining wall combine to create an intimate family zone and a welcoming sun trap close to the house.
Millboard decking adds a robust, low-maintenance surface, with two carefully designed access points: a long, low step that doubles as informal seating, and a second set of steps that leads down to a lower patio — perfect for outdoor dining and entertaining with friends and family.
Lawn, play space & planting
A generous lawn is retained for family use, with professional turfing providing a smooth, resilient surface that can stand up to regular play and everyday wear. Towards the back of the garden, a dedicated children’s play area is surfaced with rubber chippings to offer a soft, impact-absorbing base that is both safe and practical.
The planting scheme focuses on low maintenance, durability and year-round structure. Structural evergreens provide a strong framework, while flowering perennials and grasses introduce texture, movement and seasonal colour. The lawn is neatly framed with metal edging to preserve crisp lines and make mowing easier, helping to maintain the garden’s clean, modern look.
Designed to evolve with the family
Throughout this Stowlangtoft project, the aim was to balance beauty with practicality. Multiple zones for relaxation, play and entertaining are linked by a clear visual language of materials and planting, with provision made for a future garden room that will further enhance how the space supports family life as it evolves.
Planting & year-round interest
Structural evergreens, ornamental grasses and flowering perennials are combined to provide form, texture and seasonal colour throughout the year. Planting softens the edges of the hard landscaping while maintaining clear sightlines across the garden so that children can be easily supervised at play.
This Stowlangtoft garden design brings together practical family needs, robust materials and gently layered planting, resulting in a space that feels welcoming today and is ready to adapt as the family’s lifestyle changes.
Gallery
Spaces within the Stowlangtoft garden
A selection of views showing the pergola terrace, family lawn, play area and planting that ties the garden together.
Like this family garden in Stowlangtoft?
If you’re planning a new garden or redesign in Suffolk, we’d be delighted to explore how we can create a practical, beautiful space tailored to your family and the way you live.
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