Garden Design
Garden Design in Stowlangtoft, Suffolk
Location: Stowlangtoft, Suffolk
A family garden designed for everyday use — with clear, practical zones for play, relaxing and entertaining. Split levels, durable materials and low-maintenance planting create a space that feels calm, easy to live with, and ready to evolve as the family grows.
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Overview
In Stowlangtoft, the brief was to create a practical yet beautiful outdoor space for a young family — welcoming, usable every day, and easy to maintain. The layout needed safe areas for children’s play, comfortable spots for adults to relax, and flexible zones for dining and entertaining.
Split levels were used to make better use of the footprint and introduce a sense of structure. Materials were chosen for durability, while planting was designed to deliver year-round interest without becoming a maintenance burden.
- Split-level layout with patio, decking and lawn.
- Dedicated children’s play area with soft, impact-absorbing surface.
- Low-maintenance planting with strong year-round structure.
Read the design story
Family terrace & decking
The design begins with a generous patio that draws you out into the garden and establishes a clear hub close to the house. Limestone paving, a bespoke pergola and retaining structure combine to create an intimate family zone and a welcoming sun trap.
Millboard decking adds a robust, low-maintenance surface with two access moments: a long, low step that doubles as informal seating, and a second set of steps leading down to a lower patio — ideal for outdoor dining and entertaining.
Lawn, play space & planting
A generous lawn is retained for family use, professionally turfed for a smooth, resilient surface. Towards the back, a dedicated children’s play area uses rubber chippings to create a safe, impact-absorbing base that remains practical in everyday use.
Planting focuses on low maintenance and year-round structure. Evergreens provide backbone, while perennials and ornamental grasses bring movement and seasonal colour. Crisp metal lawn edging keeps lines tidy and mowing straightforward.
Designed to evolve with the family
Multiple zones for relaxing, play and entertaining are tied together through a consistent material palette and softly layered planting — with provision for a future garden room so the space can continue to adapt over time.
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 keeping clear sightlines across the garden so children can be supervised easily while playing.
This Stowlangtoft garden brings together practical family needs, robust materials and gently layered planting — welcoming now, and ready to adapt as the family’s lifestyle changes.
Gallery
Spaces within the Stowlangtoft garden
Views showing the pergola terrace, family lawn, play area and planting that tie this Suffolk 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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