In December 2009, the Water Gems team travelled to London to the BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) annual awards ceremony. They returned with three trophies and were named the overall Grand Award Winner for the work they carried out in this Edinburgh garden.
Water Gems was originally engaged to build an informal water feature with swimming area that required the construction of substantial retaining walls and extensive sub-base preparation. The client was so impressed with this work that Water Gems was commissioned to carry out the hard landscaping in other parts of the garden.
The client had considerable input to the design and undertook all the planting. Water Gems' work was carried out to exacting standards and involved the novel use of woven rebar for all retained areas and paths in the woodland area and for the construction of a compost shelter. The rebar retaining edge to paths was particularly effective in reducing disturbance to tree roots in the woodland area of the garden.
The natural swimming pool sits at the top of the garden by the house. It has a waterfall and various stone shelves which create shallow areas for planting and deeper areas for swimming. Below this, the woodland walk leads down to a rebar compost shelter with living green roof. An irrigation system and lighting also formed part of the overall project.