In Your Garden: Fiona's Stamford Garden

Posted on 27 Mar 2026

Gardens

In our series #GMinyourgarden, we’re peeking over the fence into gardens around the world to explore their places in our lives today. This week, Fiona's container garden in Stamford.

Downsizing from a village house to a small Edwardian terrace in the middle of a town, we traded a generous, leafy plot for a tiny, paved 12m x 5m overlooked courtyard.

I planned to dig up the slabs and make an urban cottage-style garden filled with flowers and wildlife. But after adding a kitchen extension with bifold doors, our builder broke some bad news: there was no soil under our yard, only layers of rubble and concrete, far too expensive to remove.

The "before"

I knew I had to make a view somehow, so I’ve created a garden using only containers (120 of them!). We removed some slabs and laid a curved reclaimed brick path to break up the boxiness. Small trees and shrubs in pots added some height and privacy, with ornamental grasses making a living screen against a low wall.

I gained the sense of immersion that I craved within two years. In summer, I love sitting outside the mini greenhouse with a cup of tea and my paints.

Looking up, I see Tumbling Toms ripening alongside pink pelargoniums in a wall planter. Wigwams of home-grown cosmos, zinnias, thunbergia, honeysuckle and plumbago surround me. Bees are buzzing and various butterflies flit past.

It’s my escape, my haven, my solace – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Follow along with our #GMInYourGarden series on Instagram @gardenmuseum

Follow Fiona: @fionacumberpatch

In Your Garden: Fiona’s Stamford Garden

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