Terraced Garden Landscaping in Rickmansworth

Rickmansworth

Gabion terraces, concrete steps and new lawn areas made a steep riverside garden more usable in Rickmansworth.

Steve Richardson and Rees De Liege bring practical construction experience and careful workmanship to their landscaping at S&R Landscapes. This project shows how a clear set of priorities can shape a substantial garden improvement within an agreed budget.

The house stood above a difficult slope, with the River Colne running across the bottom of the garden. Managing the levels was the starting point for creating more useful outdoor space.

A Practical Design Shaped by the Budget

The initial concept explored extensive terracing, paving, planting and lighting. The budget called for a simpler approach, with the first phase focused on the garden’s structure and access.

Terraces and steps became the priorities. A planting scheme was provided for the homeowners to implement later, allowing the available budget to be directed towards the main landscaping works.

For Steve and Rees, clear discussions about priorities help establish what can be achieved now and how the garden can develop over time.

Gabion Terraces and Concrete Steps

Thirty-two gabion baskets, filled with around 15 tonnes of granite stone, formed the terracing. The stone was carried by hand from the delivery point in the front garden, approximately 75 metres away.

The concrete steps required a further six tonnes of ballast and 60 bags of cement, moved through the same access route. Timber formwork was built on site, with reinforcing steel incorporated into the steps before the concrete was poured.

A Nexus sealant completed the concrete finish. Together, the steps and terraces gave the sloping garden a clearer arrangement of spaces.

Careful Preparation for the New Lawns

Six tonnes of graded soil were brought in to prepare the new lawn areas before turfing. In total, the project involved moving more than 36 tonnes of materials by hand.

That work illustrates the preparation behind an apparently simple garden. Organising deliveries, managing access and maintaining consistent levels all contribute to the finished result.

A Garden Planned to Develop in Stages

The completed phase established the main terraces, steps and lawns. Planting remained for the homeowners to carry out using the supplied scheme.

Decking, fencing, paving and lighting were identified as potential later improvements. This gave the homeowners a direction for the garden without needing to commission every element at once.

Steve and Rees can help you consider a similar phased approach, keeping each stage connected to the overall plan.

Project Details

Location: Rickmansworth, beside the River Colne.
First phase completed and photographed: 2019.
Recorded project budget in 2019: £20,000.
Materials supplier: Country Supplies.
Features: Granite-filled gabions, concrete steps and new lawn areas.

Planning a sloping garden transformation in Rickmansworth? Steve Richardson and Rees De Liege design and professionally landscape gardens, bringing practical planning and careful construction to challenging outdoor spaces.

Discuss your garden project with Steve and Rees.

Garden design: Karl Harrison.

Our approach

We believe a well-designed garden should be a pleasure to live in, thoughtfully built and made to last.

For us, good design starts with listening. We take time to understand how you want to use your garden, what matters to you and the character of your home.

We bring the same care to construction as we do to design. From the preparation beneath a patio to the finishing details around a border, each part contributes to the quality of the whole garden.

We favour materials suited to their purpose and planting that can thrive in its surroundings. We consider how your garden will mature and how much maintenance you want, creating a space you can enjoy for years to come.

Steve & Rees

Throughout the process he and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure we received the best design, consideration and implementation of our brief.

As a landscaper, he is a professional and did a brilliant job and completed when he said he would in a calm and measured way.

Steve and Rees worked hard in all weathers, to create a beautiful garden for us. I would highly recommend Karl and his team to create some magical for you, and to do it really well.

Rees came up with an imaginative design that has brought interest, variety and colour. The landscaping Steve, Rees and their team did was excellent and they were a pleasure to work with too.

Steve and his team were skilled and friendly, and the results were amazing. They were professional and always left things tidy. Would highly recommend.

Fast efficient service from a passionate professional who puts his competitors to shame. Excellent work at reasonable prices. You’d be mad not to use him.

What a professional garden landscape artist does is give you something that you would never do yourself. Highly recommended.

All the team were exceptionally professional, hardworking, polite and tidy. We are thrilled with the results and thoroughly recommend this business.

I could not have wished for better. I would recommend Rees, Steve and their team to you all. I could not fault them in any way and it was an absolute pleasure to work with them.

Very efficient team, hard workers and really nice people too! Great job with a really uniform finish on a complex-shaped deck. Neat workers, clearing up each evening, and finally leaving my garden and garage in perfect order.

From start to finish-excellent service and he has transformed my garden. I’m now in love with my garden and will be spending many happy hours out there.Before and After pictures - excellent transformation

Very professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great design and helpful discussions, making sure we got the best results. Would not hesitate to recommend.

Steve & Rees did an excellent job. From initial design considerations to preparation and installation. The team worked well and on time to transform our garden with Trex decking.

See how we can help you...

We adapt to the needs of every client, fluent in a combination of traditional techniques ensuring the hard landscaping works in harmony with the soft planting, garden art and style in your garden.