Redlynch Farm: 1 Acre
The Place:
Nestled in the countryside near Bruton, this Grade II listed farmhouse, home to an art gallerist and her husband, is complemented by a bold modernist extension designed by Bindloss Dawes. The fusion of historic charm and sleek contemporary design creates a compelling dialogue between past and present, seamlessly connecting the home to its landscape.
The Brief:
The goal was to create beautiful views from the large windows of the new kitchen extension and make the courtyard feel like a holiday retreat, perfect for dining and hosting. The family wanted spaces for children to play and use their imagination, as well as an area to grow their own food, surrounded by nature.
The Design:
The courtyard merges indoors and outdoors. To honor the farmhouse's agricultural roots and complement the modern extension, we chose utilitarian poured concrete slabs softened by creeping Thyme and Soleirolia soleirolii. A dining area is defined by a change to red clay pavers in a basket weave pattern.
Bespoke raised beds of traditional brickwork are filled with grasses and flowers, adding movement and beauty while supporting the foundationless building. A steel planter with an evergreen Eriobotrya japonica anchors the space. A deep, old well uncovered during site clearance was transformed into a feature: its stonework is now illuminated at night, offering a touch of history and intrigue.
The boulder garden on the left of the garden is filled with woodland and large-leaved plants like Schefflera taiwaniana, Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’, Euphorbia ‘Minor’s Merlot’, and Rogersia aesculifolia. In the sweeping grass bed, we’ve planted pollinator-friendly species such as Verbena, Veronicastrum, Salvia, and Geums, along with grasses like Calamagrostis, Stipa, and Miscanthus, offering seasonal structure. A short, neat lawn separates the boulder garden from the grass bed, and further up, we sowed a wildflower lawn to benefit pollinators.
In the paddock, a wildflower meadow, orchard trees, and raised beds for vegetables and berries will help create a self-sustaining family space. The driveway has been resurfaced in Somerset Buff Self Binding Gravel, ensuring a functional, aesthetically pleasing entry.
Phase 2 will begin next year, focusing on a fairy walk, children’s garden, and fire pit area.
Habitat Creation
Nestled in the countryside near Bruton, this Grade II listed farmhouse, home to an art gallerist and her husband, is complemented by a bold modernist extension designed by Bindloss Dawes. The fusion of historic charm and sleek contemporary design creates a compelling dialogue between past and present, seamlessly connecting the home to its landscape.
The Brief:
The goal was to create beautiful views from the large windows of the new kitchen extension and make the courtyard feel like a holiday retreat, perfect for dining and hosting. The family wanted spaces for children to play and use their imagination, as well as an area to grow their own food, surrounded by nature.
The Design:
The courtyard merges indoors and outdoors. To honor the farmhouse's agricultural roots and complement the modern extension, we chose utilitarian poured concrete slabs softened by creeping Thyme and Soleirolia soleirolii. A dining area is defined by a change to red clay pavers in a basket weave pattern.
Bespoke raised beds of traditional brickwork are filled with grasses and flowers, adding movement and beauty while supporting the foundationless building. A steel planter with an evergreen Eriobotrya japonica anchors the space. A deep, old well uncovered during site clearance was transformed into a feature: its stonework is now illuminated at night, offering a touch of history and intrigue.
The boulder garden on the left of the garden is filled with woodland and large-leaved plants like Schefflera taiwaniana, Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’, Euphorbia ‘Minor’s Merlot’, and Rogersia aesculifolia. In the sweeping grass bed, we’ve planted pollinator-friendly species such as Verbena, Veronicastrum, Salvia, and Geums, along with grasses like Calamagrostis, Stipa, and Miscanthus, offering seasonal structure. A short, neat lawn separates the boulder garden from the grass bed, and further up, we sowed a wildflower lawn to benefit pollinators.
In the paddock, a wildflower meadow, orchard trees, and raised beds for vegetables and berries will help create a self-sustaining family space. The driveway has been resurfaced in Somerset Buff Self Binding Gravel, ensuring a functional, aesthetically pleasing entry.
Phase 2 will begin next year, focusing on a fairy walk, children’s garden, and fire pit area.
Habitat Creation
- 0.3-acre Wildflower Meadow: A vibrant patchwork of native wildflowers to support pollinators.
- Species-Rich Lawn: A mix of clover, knapweed, buttercups, and birdsfoot trefoil, encouraging biodiversity.
- Mini Orchard: New orchard planting, offering fresh fruit and supporting the landscape’s ecology.
- Tree & Hedge Maintenance: Care for the 4m high Fagus hedge and treatment for a diseased Aesculus hippocastanum.
- Lighting Design: Low-impact lighting that highlights key features without disturbing nocturnal wildlife.
- Additional Hedging: 100m of hedging planted to enhance shelter and privacy.
- Woodland Planting Bed: A large woodland planting bed creates habitat and depth in the garden.
- Ornamental Grass Bed: Filled with pollinator-friendly plants, offering food and shelter for insects and birds.
| PROJECT |
Redlynch Farm |
| DURATION |
2022 |
| STATUS | In progress |