The Elm Tree Restaurant wanted a semi-formal design inspired by a New England style with clean crisp lines and uniform planting. A modern extension was added to the building some years ago and the landscaping had to match the modern lines and clean layout of this.

This was very much a project of form and structure. They were keen to have a functional area for guests to relax and eat that reflected the quality and simplicity of the food and service they offer. The formal layout of the lawn and bedding area suggests the attention to detail they have in their service and food. Placing this lawn and planted area in a raised setting offers a degree of privacy as the guests dine. The seating areas are bordered with tightly clipped yew hedging inspired by the old English formal gardens. This adds to the privacy for guests seated outdoors.

Tall pleached evergreen oaks offer architectural height and a formality that compliments the dining experience. Of particular interest in this project is the white brickwork, the mortar for which we created ourselves as the perfect matching colour was not readily available. Because of the particular mixture involved we could only work on the wall in a certain temperature window, so most of this work was carried out early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature was below 14 degrees. The limestone capping is Irish sourced and selected to compliment the design of the building.