New pool and garden landscaping in Chesham, Buckinghamshire

A new swimming pool, garden landscaping and planting have transformed the grounds of our client’s home in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Artscape was appointed to work in partnership with the homeowner’s architect and building contractor to deliver this exciting pool and garden landscaping refurbishment project.

The garden design brief was to replace the existing swimming pool and hard landscaping with a new lap pool, pool house, terrace with seating surrounded by new planting. A lap pool is defined by its long and narrow shape for a comfortable swimming length. The whole pool area was intended to become a stylish destination for swimming, entertaining and dining with friends and family.

Creating the perfect poolscape

Artscape was commissioned at early stage in the project to bring in our landscaping and planting expertise for the pool area. We discussed the architect’s initial plans and drawings and collaborated with the swimming pool company to design a pleasing layout that would work effectively for the pool area. To maximise efficiency, the building contractor, who had been hired for the bespoke pool house, installed the pool surround and hard landscaping to our specification.

While the outdoor swimming pool surround is a functional area it also has a luxurious high-end look, and features a large, separate, yet connected seating area sited away from the splashes of pool users.

The hard landscaping has a clean, light aesthetic with all the landscaping elements built in a pale palette. The sleek, but non-slip stone surface around the pool has a hardwearing water-resistant finish that will stay cool to walk on in the height of summer. Binding gravel was installed to give a natural and informal feel to the area in front of the pool.

Read our guide to the art of swimming pool landscaping

Expert poolside planting

Our Artscape team created the soft landscaping design and carried out all the planting for this garden project. This included a series of trees on the exposed slope to reduce the effects of occasional strong winds. A living windbreak of trees is attractive and long-lasting, with the added benefits of reducing moisture loss from the soil and providing a habitat for wildlife.

Shrubs and perennials include a mix of shade loving plants beneath north-facing trees and

large drifts of sun-loving plants near the pool area with trees to soften the landscaping and give vertical interest.

The planting scheme has a cool palette of whites and greens and features silver birch and soft ornamental grasses. We ensured there was a pleasing combination of colour, height, and texture for interest. The planting schemes are based on an elegant simplicity with a pared-back palette of greens and whites.

Simple mesh rabbit fencing throughout the planting will protect against damage from determined rabbits. This will be concealed as the plants grow. Decorative rabbit-proof metal gates were added for access to the pool area.

If you are planning a new garden design or have a poolscaping project, please get in touch with us at Artscape today so we can talk about your ideas.