GARDENS

Long before we encountered the tree, we cherished the idea of building a house that would be integrated with its gardens, looking outwards to the changing seasons rather than inwards towards the traditional hearth (or television).

Our plot is not very big - 180 square metres - but we have nonetheless designed four gardens into the space as well as the house.

The first is the fire garden, which will dominate our experience of the ground floor living space. The idea was simple: an ultra-efficient house does not need a fireplace, so the garden becomes the hearth. The garden includes reclaimed chimney pots placed with a classical tongue-in-cheek, Jonnie Rowlandson's amazing fence made from scrap metals and rich fiery planting including plenty of plants attractive to bees and butterflies.

The second is the water garden - or moat. This is the pond that runs the width of the back of the house and which we will have to cross to reach the fire garden. It will play an important part in enhancing biodiversity as well as keep us cool in hot summers.

The third is the wildlife garden at the front of the house. This is dominated by the tree, a great resource for birds and insects alike. We will also have a woodpile, bird bath, shrubs that provide food and shelter for birds, and a side-fence (yet to be designed) that will offer habitats to a diversity of flora and fauna. Our cats will not be allowed in the wildlife garden.

The fourth is our kitchen garden. This is really off-site - our allotment. But we will also have herbs in the back garden and an area for propogation and tender plants in the study at the top of the house.