Brediland Road Garden

Brediland Road is a local authority care house providing care for young people located in the Linwood/Paisley area of Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Previously their garden was big – almost too big. So this was where Ortus Design came in. Their brief was to transform this large, open garden into a Japanese-inspired sensory garden that would encourage the young people to spend more time outdoors and enjoy the garden together with their families, friends and the staff who support them.

Bringing together the expertise of several local companies, Ortus asked Glasgow Wood to supply all the bespoke timber elements.

See below for the full project.

Telling us more about the goals for the space, Pauline from Ortus Design said:

“The existing garden was predominantly lawn, so although there was plenty of space and very little structure, so therefore there was no real interest or reason to move through it. Our aim was to create a much more engaging and immersive landscape, with different areas to explore and experience.”

THE BRIEF

Create a garden that the young people would genuinely want to use.

THE DESIGN

The design developed around sensory planting, meadow and seating areas, informal gravel paths, a summer house, firepit, swing and a series of sculptural features throughout the garden.

All things that encourage people to move through the space: places to stop and spend time; things to explore; and areas where the young people and staff could enjoy the garden together.

BESPOKE TIMBER FEATURES:

CIRCULAR TIMBER ARCHWAYS

These were designed as sculptural gateways, helping to frame views and draw people from one part of the garden to another. They became important focal points within the softer planting and helped give structure and height to what had previously been one very open space.

BUG HOTELS

“Glasgow Wood really understood what we were trying to achieve. The pieces they created are playful and full of character, but they also have a real function within the garden and are crafted beautifully. The bug hotels are probably my favourite example of that. They support wildlife, give the young people something interesting to explore and also work beautifully as sculptural features within the planting.”

SWING & CURVED BENCH

The swing adds a playful element to the garden, while the curved timber bench helps define the firepit area and creates a sociable place where people can sit together.

Reflecting on the project, Pauline from Ortus Design said:

“This was a particularly lovely project to work on because the garden had such a clear purpose and we instantly felt drawn to the cause. We weren’t simply trying to make the space look better; we wanted to create somewhere the young people would genuinely enjoy being in, with different things to discover, places to sit together and opportunities to engage with nature.”

PROJECT CREDITS

Ortus Garden Design

garden design and planting scheme

Glasgow Wood

bug hotels, circular archways, swing and curved bench

Victoria Driveways and Landscapes

paths, edging and leveling the seating areas

McLarens Nurseries

plants

Clydeside Garden Sheds

summer house

TorcPots

large plant pot