“when you sit down, you feel enveloped by the greenery and almost forget you’re in the city”

JUDGES’ CHOICE

When Clive moved into his home in 2005, there was no garden, just a makeshift extension that the previous owners had used as a living room. But Clive, who has gardened since he was a boy, was keen to create an outdoor space, removing the corrugated plastic roof and opening it up to the elements. What he’s achieved in his small Scottish courtyard is a serene and tranquil oasis, just streets away from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh city centre.

What was the garden like when you first moved in?

It wasn’t a garden at all. It was an old lean-to that had been built on the back of the house, with a corrugated plastic roof. My original vision, because it was such a small space, wasn’t to have a garden but to build another extension. But I soon realised I didn’t need more space in the house.

What was your vision for the garden?

I had a cottage garden for the first ten years, until I had a brainwave and thought that actually you can sometimes get a nicer garden using different types of foliage. It probably sounds crazy, putting a jungle garden in Scotland with the weather against you, and in such a small space, but actually I prefer it. When you sit down, you feel enveloped by all the plants and greenery, you almost forget you’re in the city.

I thought I would achieve a calm and restful space if I went down the jungle route, but it contradicts the size of the garden and where I live in Scotland, so it was a bit of a risk. But the trick is, I think, to keep it fairly simple and to know when to stop.

Which part of the garden are you most proud of?

I suppose it’s the overall look of the garden and how the plants work together. It’s not just a case of putting in a lot of foliage plants. I’m proud of how I’ve positioned them – it’s about playing around with the plants and trying different locations. That’s probably the hardest thing, getting the planting right in such a small space. You’ve only got one chance to get it right.

What do you love most about your garden?

Probably how tranquil it is. When I look out from the ground-floor bedroom, it feels a bit like a painting because it’s a small space and it’s enclosed by the walls and all the plants. I can’t see