Hidden behind the unassuming rows of Victorian houses on John Street, you will come across the garden and architectural studio of Tom Wakeman of Studio 8 Architecture.

When I purchased the unloved property 7 years ago, one of the main features that drew me to it was the steep south-facing walled garden. Having been rented for many years, its condition was as you would expect: lacklustre, dominated by bins, rotten decking and various undulating layers of concrete and broken fencing. I knew it would take a long time to transform this space into something resembling a garden, and for many years, it was filled with building rubble, but I saw a great deal of potential to break the mould and do something unusual with this space.

The garden is small, but I had big plans for building my architectural studio at the end of the plot, surrounded by a dense, natural wilderness of wild flowers, ferns and grasses, amongst undulating stone steps and paths. Private gardens are such an important home for urban wildlife. They are the lungs of our town, and essential assets for the local environment and our well-being. I have no interest in manicured lawns, topiaries and hanging baskets. I despise artificial grass with a passion. Many people think you are limited in what you can do in a small space but, in fact, small gardens can have a very big impact. It just takes a little ingenuity and inspiration from the natural surroundings.

After the renovation of the house, I got to work making this dream a reality. The studio is economically built, clad entirely in plywood on the inside, and punctuated by brightly coloured yellow doors and windows. The outside is clad in silvering cedar cladding, creating a soft, natural backdrop for the garden that envelops it.

The garden was structured with stone terraces, steps and rocks, using inexpensive gabions as retaining walls. This is punctuated by blocks of colour, places to rest, and architectural features that link the inside with the outside. Drawing inspiration from the rocky outcrops of Lavernock Point and the National Botanic Garden of Wales, I filled every inch of the garden with coastal wildflowers, succulents, hardy perennials, grasses and ground covering herbs interspersed with woody evergreens and ferns. Come spring, the garden is bursting at the seams with life. I’ve counted four different kinds of bees at any one time. They particularly love the verbena and fennel.

Call 07892 800 241 / www.studio8architecture.co.uk