Hello, I touch on this subject again because it can be and should be as important as the house. I looked at this a few years ago, on another forum, in response to a member who had been asked to submit a rough design for the front garden and, by his own admission,  had no idea where to start. I mention in the book an approach to garden spaces by listing likely activities, desires, wants etc all dependent on relationship to house, climate, sun angles, overshadowing etc, but this blog is more about learning from enthusiasts via their books

A sponsored Sunday Telegraph article featured a piece by Sir Roy Strong (former director of the National Portrait Gallery and V+A in London) on a garden. which he and his late wife had been creating since the early 70s. It is an intriguing garden, large by most domestic standards and formal in layout. The garden is now open to the public. (National Garden Scheme)

The formality derives from the axial nature of the plan, with 'events' at path intersections and vista ends. Events for example include bird-baths, sculptures, fountains, seats in bowers, a sun dial and even a knot garden. You could of course, following your listings, have important points like a practice goal mouth or cricket stumps, a herb or fruit garden, sunny spots, a fragrant bower and so on, all dependent on size. Their garden is called Laskett gardens in Hertfordshire.

Sir Roy has produced garden design books...I recommend ' on Garden Design, on ABEbooks.co.uk for under £3 inc P+P. A trawl around your local secondhand bookshop may well uncover one or two of the many books by John Brookes...'The Small Garden', 'The New Garden' or 'Well Designed Garden' all under £3 from ABE...cheap from an excellent designer...just be careful where you plant that avenue of Limes!! Good gardening s they say on a well known Radio 4 programme.