Creating embankments is a popular approach to tackling a slope. But these are expensive and should never be steeper than 33 degrees to prevent slippage. One of the biggest risks is that heavy rainfall could cause erosion and severe washouts.

It makes much more sense to use dry stone walls to stabilise slopes and make the space useable. By cleverly constructing terraces, the space becomes bigger, and the maintenance easier. These walls also make ideal seats and tables. Other advantages include their flexibility, which makes them less vulnerable to frost, and how they create a habitat for animals and plants. Dry stone walls can be integrated into the surrounding landscape by adding plants that thrive in rocky conditions, high-quality grasses, perennials and particularly striking trees and shrubs.

You can find a selection of our hillside garden projects here