CASE STUDIES
Garden Redesign for Wheelchair Accessibility in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire
Introduction
In September 2025, Wizard Landscaping completed a full garden redesign at Gretton Villa in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. The project focused on transforming a sloped and impractical garden into a safe, level and low-maintenance outdoor space suitable for wheelchair use.
The result is a functional, attractive garden with defined areas for relaxation, socialising and planting — all designed with accessibility at its core.
The Client Brief
The existing garden was:
Unsafe for wheelchair use
Sloped and difficult to navigate
Poorly drained
Hard up against the garage, causing damp
Visually unbalanced due to a sloping border wall
The client wanted:
A fully accessible layout
A level patio and open BBQ/social space
Raised planting beds for flowers, vegetables and herbs
Artificial grass for low maintenance
A greenhouse and pergola
Improved bin storage
A visually level border wall line
The Challenges
Several unexpected and technical challenges arose:
Sloping Garden
The entire garden required regrading and staging into two practical levels.
Hidden Oil Tank Fuel Line
During excavation, an oil tank pipe was uncovered.
Wizard Landscaping safely rerouted the fuel line, allowing the garden level to be lowered without risk.
Uneven Border Wall
The existing wall followed the garden’s slope, creating an awkward and confusing visual line.
A stepped trellis installation was added to create a visually level eyeline while also allowing climbing plants such as honeysuckle and sweet peas — combining aesthetics with functionality.
Design & Planning Approach
The client initially produced their own concept layout.
Wizard Landscaping:
- Refined the design to improve practicality
Reused on-site soil to reduce costs
Staged the garden across two levels
Repositioned earth away from the garage to prevent damp
Repurposed part of the space into a bin store
- The client was consulted throughout the process, with work paused at key stages to review design refinements and budget considerations.
- One creative example was the reuse of rope to create a subtle barrier between the patio and artificial grass areas — improving wheelchair safety while maintaining openness.
Work Carried Out
Groundworks
Full site regrading
Garden staged into two functional levels
Fuel pipe rerouted
Hard Landscaping
Timber treated sleepers for raised beds
Indian sandstone paving
Artificial grass installation
Red granite chuckies
Trellis installation
Soft Landscaping
Compost supply
Planting preparation
Structures
Pergola installation
Greenhouse installation
The Finished Garden
The redesigned space now provides:
Safe and smooth wheelchair access
Defined social and BBQ area
Raised beds for planting
Level visual lines from inside the house
Improved drainage and damp prevention
Practical bin storage
The garden is now highly functional, low maintenance and adaptable for both everyday use and social occasions.
The Finished Garden
“We are delighted with the completed project. The transformation is incredible and the garden now works perfectly for us both. After speaking to other landscaping companies, Wizard Landscaping was the only company that gave us confidence they were right for the job. We would highly recommend them.”
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Hillhead Of Teuchar, Cuminestown, AB53 5YL
Registered address: 51-53 High Street Turriff Aberdeenshire AB53 4EJ No. SC343966