How to design a compact city garden: top tips for creating an outdoor space that works for the whole family

A garden to fire kids' imaginations and get them away from their screens doesn't have to be huge.

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Alex Mitchell22 February 2019

Visiting a garden in north London, the owner explained that she was looking for a redesign to suit all the family.

“I’d like a seating area, a veg patch, lots of flowers, an archway and a big shed,” she declared, gesturing at the roughly 20ft square patch. “Oh, and my son would love to play football.”

Outside space is so precious in London that we want it to do everything for everyone.

We want a place to relax with a glass of wine and somewhere to potter. We want our kids to run off steam and play safely but that’s tricky.

For a start, children get bored with proscriptive play equipment quickly. They also outgrow it.

That is why the RHS Back to Nature Garden co-designed by the Duchess of Cambridge at the Chelsea Flower Show this year will feature a den, a campfire, a stream, a tree house and a hollow log, elements that spark children’s imaginations rather than dictate to them how they should play.

We might not all have room for a tree house, let alone a stream, but there are ways you can make your outdoor space work for children and the adults, too. Here are a few ideas.

Wild child

Children love exploring hidden wild areas of the garden. You don’t need acres to provide this. When you’re small, bamboo and grasses can feel like a forest.

A den behind the shed might do. And shrubs such as rhododendrons are great to hide behind.

Bring in the bugs

Most children love nature, including insects.

“Children aren’t squeamish, they’re intrigued by nature and in an urban setting they really need that connection,” says garden designer Jilayne Rickards of Muswell Hill (jilaynerickards.com).

“They love lifting up a log to see the creepy-crawlies.”

Build up log piles or make insect hotels. If you have a tree, put a bird nesting box on it and even a wildlife camera — visit the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds website for ideas and options (rspb.org.uk).

Build up log piles or make insect hotels to bring in the bugs
Alamy Stock Photo

Avoid toxic plants

Accidental poisoning from plants is incredibly rare but if you do have young children, it’s worth avoiding some of the more toxic plants, such as foxgloves, yew and aconitum.

Hellebores can be an irritant, too, and euphorbias release a milky white sap when damaged which can sting eyes and skin.

Spiky agaves and rough-edged grasses such as miscanthus Zebrinus could call for the first-aid kit.

Grow what children love

Children respond to plants, always wanting to touch, smell and eat things. Plants to spark their imagination include furry lambs’ ears (stachys byzantina Silver Carpet; crocus.co.uk, £5.99) and honesty with its papery seed discs (lunaria annua; higgledygarden.com, £1.95).

And don’t forget edibles. Grow sweet Sungold cherry tomatoes, Early Nantes carrots and peas that are easy to raise from seed or young plants, either in the ground or in pots (suttons.co.uk).

Choose plants children will love, including easy-to-grow tomatoes, carrots and peas
Alamy Stock Photo

Adapt your space

“I like to use natural elements rather than buying a lot of plastic play equipment,” says Jilayne Rickards, who has designed many small London spaces.

Woven willow makes a great den — try musgrovewillows.co.uk for cut stems.

“If you have a tree, tie a rope to it and make a swing with a piece of branch,” adds Rickards.

“Medium-sized trees such as magnolias are great for climbing. Include a storage chest on your patio so toys can be hidden away in the evenings.

Or have one made that doubles as a seat.” Try Garden Trading Aldsworth Outdoor Storage Box (johnlewis.com, £160).

Sink and screen your trampoline

A trampoline is much less of an eyesore when it is sunken in the ground.

If you do go down this road, get it done professionally, since a botch job can be a drainage nightmare and even a death trap.

Use someone like Sunken Trampolines (sunkentrampolines.co.uk) who are experts.

To screen it, suggests Jilayne Rickards, plant pleached trees.

“If that is too pricey, put up trellis and coat it with an evergreen climber such as star jasmine (trachelospermum jasminoides) with a seat in front as a focal point.”