Ham House - North Meadows

Having volunteered in Ham House gardens for a number of years, Zoe approached the gardens team to reimagine areas the property the estate wanted to develop as part of her final design project at Inchbald.

The team wanted a long term plan to evolve the north meadows, which are currently all grassland, partially flooded, with rows of lime trees. The new meadows design had to have historical integrity, improve the connection between the river and house, provide a better sense of arrival and meet the National Trust’s biodiversity agenda.

To resolve these challenges Zoe reconnected the house and river by reinstating the old river entrance shown in the 1742 Helming Ham Plan. To create a sense of arrival she encouraged visitors to walk from the car park along the Thames path. Strategic cut outs in the tree line and undergrowth were proposed, to give glimpses of the house before being obscured again, increasing anticipation. Finally the house emerges and is seen along the existing avenue of lime trees. A new feature bridge then takes visitors over water directly to the property.

Biodiversity in the area was enhanced by providing a greater assortment of habitats for wildlife to develop and by stricter designation of human routes through the site to minimise wildlife disturbance. Overall the site has been broken down into three habitats, “carr” woodland, wetland and meadow. The curved lines for the ponds and paths have been inspired by the wood panelling inside the house. The waft and weave in the design has come from the 16th century interior flooring. The wetland ponds extends the work of the Thames Landscape Strategy and double up as a Sustainable Drainage System, helping protect the property from Thames flooding. Additionally they echo the historical enviovnment of Ham before the house was built.

The gardens team were delighted with the plans, and the many layers of meaning woven throughout the design.