From stone steps and patios to ornamental planting

When you need to engage a landscape contractor, there are a number of elements to consider. Some have specialist focus in hard landscaping; patios, driveways, paths, steps and walls. Others have a more horticultural expertise; planting design, trees, ornamental shrubs, hedging and turf. Some only construct; others design, build and maintain.

These specialisms apply whether you are looking to create a commercial outdoor space or a private backdrop in your own garden.

Design, build and plant

At Justin Paxman Landscapes, you gain a fully-rounded perspective on your landscape plans. Equally experienced in soft AND hard landscaping and with a design understanding to be able to provide build drawings, planting plans and detailed bills of materials, that’s a lot of your boxes ticked. A couple of recent projects demonstrate just that: the versatility, flexibility and personal touch of an all-rounder in the landscape field.

PROJECT ONE: Paving, steps and retaining walls for a fresh, easy access hard landscape: The Home Hard Landscape

This rear garden hard landscape project has been completed in November 2020 at a private residence in Fenay Bridge near Huddersfield. The client needed to rejuvenate and refresh the view from the rear of the property and make this a more accessible and manageable outdoor living area.

Using Indian Stone for the patio and newly paved areas and steps, the garden had to be hand dug as access was too restricted for machinery and equipment. The JPL Hard Landscape Team planned and executed the landscape scheme to the letter, reusing stone materials to reposition the retaining wall and allowing the homeowner free access to all elements of their garden.

PROJECT TWO: Planting new shrubs, trees and ornamental beds in Manchester: The Commercial Planting Scheme

Always a joy to be involved in a very public open space, bringing extra green, natural elements to an otherwise urban environment. This month we have returned for the second phase of our reinstatement planting at the Trafford Centre in Manchester (read about the first phase here).

The external works project continues into the Winter. Collaborating again with Marshall’s Building Contractors Elland, the soft landscape works include tree removal and the supply of topsoil as well as every element of planting from bulbs to shrubs to trees.

Reinstating and rejuvenating the existing beds outside Selfridges, we have filled planting gaps and supplied and applied ornamental gravel to the low level hedging displays to great effect.

November 2020

Turf, dry stone walls and pristine paving for rear garden transformation

The JPL commercial team might be busy creating landscapes across the region, but we’re also closer to home in this private garden in Almondbury, Huddersfield.

Garden Clarity and Contrast

The rear garden has undergone a complete transformation with its dry stone wall raised bed, alongside the newly turfed lawn. The composite decking and balustrades sits in the corner of the garden, creating a seating area. The Marshall’s sawn paving area complements the deck tones.

The garden is perfectly poised for the Autumn months, ready to make the most of the time at home and outdoor living at its finest.

Starbucks landscape series completes in triplicate: Stoke, Preston and Peterborough

Three of a series of six drive-thru Starbucks can now enjoy a natural landscape approach as Justin Paxman Landscapes (JPL) complete their latest project in Peterborough.

Ground cover, shrubs and ornamental trees

Hot on the heels of similar completions in Preston and Stoke, the third completion is applauded by JPL Managing Director Justin Paxman. Working with York-based main contractor Simpsons, Justin is understandably buoyed by his landscape company’s ongoing commitment to the contract, due for completion by the end of the year and says:

“This is a superb contract to have won and delivered in these uncertain times. It’s a real credit to the hard work and commitment from all staff involved”

Justin Paxman, Managing Director, JPL

Planting at Peterborough

Managing the sourcing of plants, the ground preparation and the shrub and tree planting itself, the palette includes shrubs and ground cover for surrounding beds and landscape flanks around the new parking and site areas.

Planting a hardy blend of grasses (Stipa tenuissima) and shrub staples fit for a strong, resilient landscape (including Choisya ternata Aztec Pearl, Eleagnus ebbingei, Prunus lauro. Otto Luyken, Viburnum davidii, Osmanthus burkwoodii), the JPL team also sourced and planted extra heavy standard single and multi-stem birch (Betula albo. Fascination, Betula util. Jacquemontii) and semi-mature planes (Platanus hispanica) trees to complement the existing mature trees.

Work will continue on the next three landscapes at Newcastle, Nottingham and Blackpool throughout Autum/Winter 2020.

Triple level private garden completed in Holmfirth

Started earlier this Summer, the latest domestic garden professionally delivered from design to construction is now being enjoyed by its homeowner – courtesy of the team at Justin Paxman Landscapes.

From dream design to glorious garden

Designed by the in-house team at JPL, the completed garden not only reflects the client’s brief and intent, its delivers a split-level, split-themed landscape, feature-rich and to a high quality finish.

See how the garden progressed from initial design through its construction stages.

Yorkshire landscape with reservoir view

Whilst our landscape team often collaborate with designers, landscape architects and clients on their own landscape designs, we also provide a “design and build” full landscape service. In this instance in a cottage garden overlooking the Digley Reservoir in Holmfirth, the client wanted just that: A landscaping company who could understand, interpret and translate their ambitious garden plans as well as transform the area beyond their home into an outdoor living space to enjoy throughout the seasons.

Excavation and Demolition

Working off an agreed design concept and detailed landscape plans, the JPL team set to work in July 2020 to demolish the existing outhouses, removing the existing stone wall and retaining the stone for reuse and commencing the excavations required for the new levels.

The Design

The garden will have upper and lower patios connected by steps, lawn and pathways, overlooked by a new timber decking platform with stainless steel and glass panel balustrade. The design incorporates different levels and themes whilst retaining connectivity and flow through the garden towards the reservoir views beyond. Wrap-around steps take the garden from upper to lower levels, across a lawn dissected by a new pathway and flanked by existing and new trees matched in height and variety.

The sloping lawn will meet gravel planted areas with pockets of lavender and Juniper Sky Rocket statements for height and foliage interest.

On firm foundations

Accessing the rear of the property with heavy machinery to begin excavations is no mean feat. Careful consideration has been paid to access and logistics ensuring the minimum of disruption to homeowner and neighbours and the maximum activity to get the grounds ready to prepare the foundations of the new walls, steps, patio and pathways.

Stone Walls and Patios

Removing the existing stone wall and reusing the stone on new block walls, the upper patio foundations are underway. A patio and pathway is taking shape, using Marshall’s Charcoal Limestone.

A drainage channel to the soakaway will prevent any standing water from rainwater run-off and the full-colour graphite rendered walls will coordinate perfectly with other elements of the hard landscaping.

Follow this garden’s progress

The JPL team continue on site so return regularly to the J Paxman Landscapes news updates to follow its journey to completion later this Summer 2020.

Softening a high street store approach with soft landscaping

The timely and professional completion of soft landscaping at this Lidl store in Chesterfield has been an absolute must. Main contractor Castle Construction expected nothing less; and once again, J Paxman Landscapes have delivered. Delivered topsoil, shrub and tree planting. Delivered turf, mulching and a complete soft landscaping scheme in a busy high street.

With a heavy standard tree selection of maple, birch, cherry and lime and a planting palette to ensure healthy ground cover and foliage contrast throughout the seasons (including berberis, choisya, hebe, skimmia and viburnum), the planting scheme is handed over this month.

July 2020