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The Alistair Kirt Bayford small garden
The terraced house is a familiar element of our towns and cities, however their gardens are declining as the trend for swapping grass for paving becomes more prevalent. The effects of this are cumulative, and amount to many environmental problems including increased risk of flooding, increased urban temperatures, and loss of habitat.

23 Paved Green Terrace, is an illustrative example of how the car can be accommodated into the street scene with reduced impact on the environment. A Sustainable Urban Drainage system (SUDS) beneath the garden allows for ground water recharge, and this reinforced matrix system supports the grass area and makes it suitable for the G-Wiz electric car. Oak posts line the entrance path, and link to bands of setts that run through the grass. Low voltage LED lighting is used to guide users within the space.

This garden also contributes to biodiversity. Cantilevered green roofs provide elevated refuges for wildlife; a native hedge borders the garden, providing feeding and nesting ground for garden birds; and a vegetated green wall planted with a mix of evergreen herbaceous perennials and ferns provide a tapestry of colour.

Alistair Kirt Bayford graduated from Writtle College with a first-class BSc (Hons) in Landscape and Garden Design in 2004. In the same year he was also awarded best student in garden design. He made his debut at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 2004 and his RHS Chelsea Flower Show debut in 2006. Of this year's entry, Alistair says, “The past two times I have exhibited, I have been left disappointed by small mistakes, which cost me a better medal. I'm here to change that.”