Our work at the wonderful Raby Castle included the design of a large outdoor terrace for the new High Vinery restaurant and the first thing we did when embarking on our masterplanning process for this incredible site was open up a sweeping panoramic view of the castle, previously unseen for decades. In keeping with our ambition at Raby, we designed a long relaxed terrace, formed in permeable reclaimed York stone and rustic reclaimed cobbles. This space sets the scene to our work in the gardens beyond, located as it is immediately next to the visitor entrance, and our use of patinated materials and relaxed low planting sets up our narrative of a series of gardens which have a sense of time and belonging. The terrace is gently enclosed by soft planting in which species which enjoy this south-facing aspect are quietly repeated to create a tangible sense of place. Groups of yew will be clipped by the estate team into undulating informal mounds to echo the forms of the historic yew hedges in the walled garden, seen peeping over the top of the pantiled bothies below. The lawns below the terrace are gracefully stepped using low reclaimed stone walls, providing informal space to sit and take in the view. A grove of five Persian ironwood trees (Parrotia persica) at the east end of the terrace will mature into a continuous canopy of dapped shade. We designed the majestic oak tables and benches which were wonderfully crafted for us by the estate foresters.