You might not think of ‘family gardens’ as a particular garden style, but there are some common ingredients needed for a successful space for everyone from the toddler through to parents (and possibly grandparents) as well as the family pet(s) of course! My latest ‘snippet on style’ focuses on what you might need in your family space.
Having said that there are some common ingredients in family gardens, in terms of its overall look these spaces can adopt almost any of the more common design styles such as formal, country, cottage etc., though the functional needs of the family garden do impose some limitations. The minimum requirements are usually to provide a flexible space for games (and scope for these games to change as children grow), room for entertainment and play, and an area for outside dining (maybe including an area for cooking the food too, such as a barbeque). The smallest gardens can accommodate a sandpit or swing, while larger plots have space for separate adult- and child-friendly zones. The key features often include:
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Play equipment
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Colourful materials
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Dens and tents
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Tough plants
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Wildlife features
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Easy care seating
For tips on including play opportunities in gardens see my earlier article ”Free range’ children? – seven tips for successful garden play’ and others on play.
Play equipment can be made to look attractive as well as practical
Separate areas, possibly using different lvels, can mean adukts and children have their own spaces but are close enough for supervision 9which in my experience works both ways!)
A simple terrace or patio which is big enough to cater for eating/relaxation and provide a space for flexible play, including bringing toys outside.
Plantign can be used to screen off less attarctive play features and at the same tiem createa sense of mystery and ownership for the childrenpff
How about a den made from tree bark?
Try incorporating space for growing food or other plants as a family
Some play equipment can be concealed or made into interesting garden features, like this sunken trampoline in a grass mound
Water safety for younger children is especially important. Strong pond covers like this one can enable youngsters to look but not fall in…
Can your family garden provide pet – friendly features too?!
Other articles in the ‘Style Counsel’ series:
Old School Gardener
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