Garden Design
Garden Design in Fairlight, East Sussex
Location: Fairlight, East Sussex
A coastal family garden shaped around a natural swimming pond, breathtaking sea views and a series of immersive outdoor living spaces. Designed to celebrate nature, creativity and year-round enjoyment.
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Overview
This Fairlight garden was designed for a family who wanted a landscape that embraced outdoor living, creativity and connection with nature. The brief centred on creating a multi-functional garden that encourages movement, discovery and interaction while celebrating the stunning coastal setting overlooking the English Channel.
The design introduces spaces for socialising, gardening, relaxing, swimming and play — all connected through a natural aesthetic that feels calm, cohesive and deeply rooted in the surrounding countryside.
- Natural swimming pond with panoramic coastal views.
- Garden room clad in reclaimed Shou Sugi Ban timber.
- Outdoor kitchen with recycled tiles and Station Black paving.
- Meadow planting and coastal-inspired woodland edges.
Natural swimming pond & sea views
The heart of the garden is a natural swimming pond positioned to capture uninterrupted views of the sea — with the French coastline visible on clear days. This creates a striking focus point that functions as both a swimming zone and an elevated viewpoint.
Garden room & outdoor kitchen
A green-roofed family garden room sits nearby, clad in timber reclaimed from the clients’ previous garden. Treated with the Shou Sugi Ban technique, it provides durability and a richly textured, coastal-appropriate finish.
Adjacent to this, a sloped-roof outdoor kitchen uses recycled tiles and Station Black porcelain paving, tying together rustic charm and contemporary detailing.
Planting, meadows & movement
A timber bridge leads across the swimming pond and into soft, abundant planting. A mature rhododendron was carefully crown-lifted to filter natural light through its canopy, enhancing the woodland atmosphere.
Layered planting blends native species with ornamental varieties and gradually transitions into a wildflower meadow that dissolves into the wider landscape — blurring the boundary between garden and countryside.
Exploration & family life
Throughout the design, a series of outdoor rooms create opportunities for sitting, socialising, cooking, playing and enjoying nature. The upper terrace includes a fish pond and productive growing space, combining beauty with hands-on gardening.
Sculptures and interactive furniture chosen by the clients add personality and playfulness, ensuring the garden reflects the family’s creativity and lifestyle.
The result is a coastal landscape that balances ecology, sustainability and contemporary family living — a private retreat that feels welcoming, expressive and alive throughout the seasons.
Wildness, structure & coastal character
As the planting matures, the garden moves gently between structured spaces and wild, naturalistic edges — a balance that reflects its dramatic coastal setting. Meadow species, hardy perennials and woodland tones create an environment that feels both immersive and ecologically rich.
This Fairlight project weaves together sea views, natural swimming, reclaimed materials and abundant planting to create a garden that feels nurturing, expressive and deeply connected to its landscape.
Gallery
Spaces within the Fairlight garden
A selection of views showing the swimming pond, garden room, outdoor kitchen, meadow planting and coastal woodland pathways.
Like this coastal garden in Fairlight?
Whether you're planning a natural swimming pond, an immersive coastal landscape or a contemporary family garden, we’d be delighted to bring your vision to life.
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