The design and structure of the garden at Great Dixter in Christopher Lloyd’s words.

Most of the garden design was by Lutyens; it always seems fluid, never stodgy. Thus, yew hedges are sometimes curved, making a change from straight lines. He often used tiles in a decorative (though functional) manner. Thus, a chicken house with rotten walls, was turned into an open sided loggia, supported by laminated tile pillars. In so far as possible, Lutyens incorporated farm buildings into his design, turning them to other uses. Four brick cattle drinking tanks were retained; we have now filled these in and planted them.

The paving is of York sandstone. This had comprised London’s pavements, but when ripped up to be replaced by tarmac, the stone became available for garden use. Lichens grow on it, making their own patterns, particularly noticeable at their ‘flowering’, in April. But the stone is slippery when wet.