Paths & Steps in St Neots

St Neots grew up along the River Great Ouse, and parts of the town sit on low, flat ground where gardens can stay wet for long periods after rain. A path that is fine on a dry summer day can become a strip of standing water in winter if it was laid without thinking about where that water goes. That makes drainage the first question for any garden path in St Neots.

We start by looking at levels across the whole garden, not just along the line of the path. A path laid perfectly flat on flat ground will hold puddles, so we give it a gentle fall, either along its length or across its width, towards a lawn, a border or a drainage point. On ground that holds water badly, a slightly raised path with a free draining base can stay usable when the surrounding lawn is soft.

The base matters even more on wet ground. Soft, saturated soil cannot support a path for long, so we dig to firmer material and lay a compacted, free draining sub-base. On some plots a geotextile layer helps stop the base mixing with the soil below. It is not glamorous, but it is what prevents a path sinking in its first wet winter.

Newer estates such as Loves Farm often have long, narrow gardens with a side passage and a short step down from the patio. In older parts of town, gardens may have brick paths and steps that have shifted over many years. Either way, the routes that matter most are usually the bins, the shed and the back gate. On the narrowest passages, a single continuous surface with no step at the gate makes wheeling bins out on collection day noticeably easier.

Steps on damp ground need extra care with grip. We choose finishes with a textured surface and add a contrasting nosing so the edge is easy to see. Every step in a flight is built to the same rise and tread, which is more important than ever when surfaces may be wet.