In the heart of historic Bath, behind the honeyed stone facades of Prior Park Buildings, a once-forgotten courtyard has blossomed into a secluded garden escape — a space defined by texture, intimacy, and the careful collision of order and overgrowth.
What began as a dull, unloved outdoor area is now a richly layered garden, alive with climbers, containers, and perennials in full, expressive bloom. Raised beds were crafted to honour the local architectural vernacular, while generously sized pots and troughs bring greenery to eye level, softening the rigid boundaries of walls and paving. Atop the utility structure, a green bin roof quietly supports pollinators and contributes to the lushness that now defines the space.
Evergreen jasmine and vigorous wisteria lead the charge up the walls, their twisting stems and fragrant blooms bringing structure and scent. In between, hydrangeas swell with colour, while erigeron spills from cracks and crevices, giving a feeling of natural abundance. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ weaves through the scene with its signature violet-blue flowers, stitching the space together in a wash of soft continuity.
A Japanese maple and tree ferns add vertical interest and dappled shade, while pittosporum and other shade-tolerant evergreens anchor the design. Terracotta pots, aged to perfection, cluster like a still life on the edges of the terrace — each one part of the narrative of time, care, and the slow magic of growing things.
In this garden, there’s a sense that nature is not being tamed, but welcomed — allowed to weave its way through every crevice, encouraged to settle and stay. The result is a true city retreat: a hidden, heartfelt tangle of petals, pots, and possibility.
