Breaking Ground on Our New ‘Four Seasons’ Feature Garden

As any keen gardener knows, few things are more exciting than embarking on a major garden project. At Oxford Garden Centre, we’re delighted to be putting shovels in the ground on our most ambitious project yet: a brand new feature garden in the grounds of our garden centre near Oxford.

Over the next 12 months, the OGC team will be applying all our expertise and passion for gardening and landscaping to help bring this new project to life. Based on a “four seasons” theme and packed with planting, paths, water features, seating areas and decorative features, the new display garden will showcase the best British-sourced landscaping products and a vast range of plants.

While the project is set for completion in spring/early summer 2024, we can already share a sneak preview of the design of the new display garden, as well as photos from early construction.

What is the OGC feature garden?

Located in the left corner of Oxford Garden Centre, the new 235 square metre display garden will channel a four seasons concept to provide a memorable experience for customers while showcasing some of our best plants and landscaping products.

The new garden is designed by Emma Bernard, an Oxford-based garden designer. Emma’s design divides the space into four equal areas – spring, summer, autumn, and winter – each connected by a series of paths that take visitors on a seasonal journey. As well as an extensive array of planting, the new feature garden will include decorative features, seating areas, water features, and more.

The build is being undertaken by our in-house team of Brian Profit and Warwick Vardy, with Brian serving as project manager. Our Horticultural Manager Jacky Gardner, will lead the preparation and planting of the garden, with a planting scheme featuring a wide range of plants from small shrubs to trees.

What is the ethos behind the new feature garden?

The project is a collaboration between OGC and our sister business AWBS. We knew we wanted to not only to elevate the customer experience at the garden centre, but to celebrate local, British products and suppliers.

As such, the new display garden uses materials from British sources, whenever possible, including paving, gravel, walling stone, and fencing. We have also turned to local craftspeople and suppliers for some of the feature elements of the garden.

How is the project progressing?

Brian started work on the new feature garden in March, and already a considerable amount of progress has been made (see photos). Visitors to our garden centre will see a large outdoor area at the back-left, currently cordoned off with blue site security fencing.

Feature garden area prior to ground works starting

The garden’s complex design – with a range of features and a lot of hard landscaping – called for careful preparation. Brian first had to survey the area and mark out all the features before he could prepare the site. This was made trickier by the fact that the garden centre sits on the side of a gentle slope. As such, Brian and Warwick had to spend several weeks digging and levelling the site to get it ready for construction.

Clearing and levelling the new site for the feature garden

By early May, the site was prepared. Brian wasted no time in laying the bases for the paths, features, and paved areas, while Warwick created heavy lattice cladding to hide the security fencing on two sides of the garden. Our dynamic duo have now moved on the next stage of the project: paving the paths and patio areas. To begin with, they will lay 40 square metres of genuine York sandstone paving sourced direct from a Yorkshire quarry.

Laying the foundations for the paving and seating areas in our new feature garden

The first of many metres of natural stone paving to be installed

Curved Cotswold stone wall created for one of the seating areas in the display garden

It would be remiss not to mention that all this is far from a full-time project for Brian and Warwick. Both are still devoting much of their time to maintaining the Oxford Garden Centre and AWBS branches, including the large customer display areas at each. Nice work, chaps!

If you are interested in following the progress of the new display garden between now and next year, make sure to follow social media and the Oxford Garden Centre Feature Garden Pinterest board. We will be updating the board regularly with photos and video clips as the project progresses.