Kilgraney Garden Part 1 - A railway sleeper design from scratch
Creating the garden at Kilgraney Barn was a challenge. The 'blank canvas' was wholly made from a hardcore base that had been used as a parking area. No trees, grass, shrubs or weeds. In fact, no form of life at all! The plan was soon conceived to create raised beds from new oak railway sleepers that could sit on top of the rubble and could be filled with topsoil. The raised beds were shaped around paths and patios to give the effect of different 'rooms' in the garden, and the floor areas were constructed with different varieties of cobbles, slabs and stone sets.
Even though there was a reasonably clear idea at the start, the design evolved and changed as the project progressed. Design outlines were sprayed on the ground, rubbed out and re-drawn. The concept was to integrate a classical design with a modern feel. A kind of contemporary knot garden. A formal yet comfortable space to enjoy and relax.
Weeks of digging, lifting, cutting, screwing, filling etc.. brought us up to the end of December when the snow started to fall.
Kilgraney Barn
Nottingham
RAILWAY SLEEPERS USED
New oak railway sleepers 2.4m x 200mm x 100mm - Raised beds
New oak railway sleepers 2.4m x 150mm x 150mm - Fencing posts
Timberlok Fastenmaster sleeper screws
RailwaySleepers.com Says..
The birth of a wonderful garden. It's so facinating to see the early stages of the design, starting with chalked out lines, and early perimeter walls, through to the building of complex interconnecting shapes and the integration of all the different areas. A fantastic example of railway sleepers being used for landscaping in a formal yet relaxed way, not to mention an impressive photo documentary of the step by step construction of this amazing garden.