CASE STUDY
Japanese Water Garden
- Belsize Park, London NW3
Japanese Water Garden with Ecosystem Koi Pond
Location: Belsize Park, London NW3
Project Type: Japanese Water Garden
Designed & created by Daniel Windley
We were asked to design and create a special Japanese Water Garden in London NW3. Our clients’ vision included an ecosystem Koi pond, complete with waterfalls and streams and a bespoke Japanese tea house.
Chelsea Flower Show Gold Award-winning plants were sourced to include in the scheme alongside a hand-picked Japanese cloud tree. This planting added colour and structure to the garden.
One of the highlights of the garden is the “fire rock” feature, which brings the warmth of a fire to the outdoor space in contrast to the water. We also installed Japanese-style decking using Millboard to create a raised walkway, along with neat trims and raked gravel areas for an authentic Japanese feel.
Because the garden was at basement level, our team had to solve the challenge of limited access. Large rocks were brought in with a specialist “spider” crane and hand placed. We even had to remove and replace the utility room cabinets to open up space for moving materials.
This special project included a private buying trip for sourcing koi carp and returning to London for supervised release into the water garden.
Thanks to careful planning and collaborating closely with the design input of our clients to bring their vision to life, the final result is a peaceful retreat that blends classic Japanese style with practical modern features.
“We had a long-held dream of creating a Japanese-inspired waterscape garden, and after a terrible experience with another contractor, we found Daniel and Sarah. Working with them was absolutely amazing—they took our vision and brought it to life, even overcoming the challenges of our central London location. They finished the project two weeks early, stayed completely on budget, and immersed themselves in every detail, from choosing the perfect rocks to placing our plants. Their passion, expertise, and integrity let us trust them fully, and the result is more than a garden—it’s our own tranquil, secret world.”
