'Every Time The Digger Went In, More Rocks Came Out. They Became The Basis For The Garden Design'

We moved to France 13 years ago, into a typical stone house on a plot of 7,500 m2 on the Vienne river.

- Jackie Barnes

Although our summers are hot and dry, our winters are relatively mild compared to a lot of France. Seven years ago we decided to build a bungalow on a field 300m down the road, situated away from the river, but with great views of the valley opposite that change with the seasons. The 3,200m2 field gave us a blank canvas. Every time the digger went into the ground, more and more rocks came out. They became the basis for the garden design – front and back.

THE FRONT GARDEN

It took four years to build, but gradually the front garden took shape. The soil was sandy, almost concrete, in the hot summer. Lots of well-rotted manure, déchetterie compost, and wood chips later and we have flower beds that just about survive.