CASE STUDY
St George’s College, Weybridge
A carefully balanced landscape was created to complement a modern college facility, combining formal structure with softer, natural planting. The scheme enhances the building’s presence while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding woodland setting.
Location
Weybridge, Surrey
Client
Blenheim House Construction Ltd
Sector
services
Soft landscaping implementation, formal frontage planting, tree and shrub planting, planting to beds and borders, wildflower and meadow seeding
Blending Formal Design with Natural Surroundings
Archway Green were employed to landscape the surrounding green spaces of a new state-of-the-art activity centre at St George’s College, Weybridge. The aim was to create an imposing frontage with a formal approach and elegant planting beds that would harmonise with the modern building, while also reflecting the wider college setting, which includes areas of native woodland.
Due to the contours of the site, the building was sunk into the ground, creating both a challenge and an opportunity for the landscape design. A balance between formal and informal elements was carefully developed to respect both the contemporary architecture and the heritage of the college. Pleached hornbeam trees were used to form a striking frontage, with their trained canopies creating a refined screening effect. Surrounding beds were filled with a wide range of ornamentals, shrubs and grasses, chosen for their colour, texture and seasonal interest, including Ajuga reptans ‘Braunherz’, Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’, and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’.
A Landscape Designed for Year-Round Interest
Each element was selected to create a landscape that feels both structured and natural, supporting the building while connecting it to its surroundings. The use of ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ and Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ helped soften the overall scheme, creating a smooth transition between formal planting and the more natural areas of the site.
A gently sloping hill was seeded to form a textured and visually engaging landscape, which also supports local wildlife and biodiversity. The result is a carefully balanced environment that enhances the setting of the college, offering visual interest throughout the year while remaining sensitive to its surroundings. Over time, as the planting matures, the landscape will continue to strengthen its character and provide a lasting and well-integrated outdoor space.
