Designing a Narrow Garden - A Visit from The Middle-Sized Garden

In June 2026, I had the pleasure of welcoming Alexandra Campbell, of The Middle-Sized Garden, into my own garden to talk about its design and the challenges and opportunities of working with a particularly narrow space.

Measuring approximately 30 metres long but just five metres wide, the garden initially felt more like a corridor than somewhere to linger. My approach was to challenge that sense of length, using generous planting beds, a winding path and carefully positioned trees to interrupt sightlines, create a sense of depth and encourage exploration.

The result is a garden that feels more immersive and abundant than its proportions might suggest, with a succession of spaces and views that reveal themselves gradually.

It was a pleasure to show Alexandra around, share some of the thinking behind the design and explore how even the most challenging garden shapes can offer opportunities for creativity.

Read the feature: Designing a Narrow Garden – The Middle-Sized Garden

Watch the garden: The Middle-Sized Garden – video