A garden designed by late botanist Chris Fehily is the making of €595k Farran home
While tremendous dedication to her own woodland garden in Ovens created a two acre Lee Valley sanctuary that cemented her reputation as a plantswoman, and attracted hundreds of visitors over the years, the UCC-educated botanist showed equal dedication to smaller projects.
One such project was at Woodview House in Upper Farran, where Mick and Elmarie Long added a rear sunroom, and were keen to enliven the new extension with an enhanced outdoor space.
'Chris designed the garden and her big thing was to bring it into the sunroom as much as possible – which she did,' Elmarie says.
The skill with which Chris blurred the boundary between indoors and outdoors is framed by the tall windows of the sunroom where the dining experience improved immeasurably in far more enjoyable surroundings.
Chris was thoughtful in her plant selection too, mixing a palette of easy-care, low-sized, ornamental shrubbery (about half a dozen Pseudo Wintera) with some striking specimen trees, including a Japanese Umbrella Pine, a striking focal point close to the sunroom, without obscuring the view. Hydrangeas are well represented too, from classic mophead to delicate lacecap, in hues of pink and blue.
The 0.3a, west-facing, landscaped garden is slightly elevated, built up behind a low wall of Liscannor stone. A narrow strip of paving outside the sunroom windows widens into a broad patio, off to the side.
Sunroom, garden and patio were all done 19 years ago, the second in one of two major renovations undertaken by the Longs during their 48 years at Woodview House. The first renovation — a two-storey extension which added a fourth double bedroom– was done 28 years ago. The downstairs layout was reconfigured too into a more open plan space with good connectivity between a lounge area, the kitchen, a living room and the sunroom.
'The house was under 1,250 sq ft and it's effectively double that now,' Mick says. Another reception room at the opposite side of the hallway is a ready-made home office/playroom/teen den.
The couple invested in energy upgrades too, including a zoned heating system and the installation of seven solar panels on the south-facing roof of a detached garage. The result is a decent B3 energy rating and more favourable green mortgage rates.
A family is the most likely buyer for Woodview House given its size, and the very safe, fully enclosed, rear garden.
In addition, it's close to Farran National School, pre- and after-school care and a Montessori. There are buses to secondary schools in Coachford and Ballincollig and a Friday night youthclub in the nearby community hall is a big hit with neighbourhood kids, says selling agent Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald.
Woodview House
She points out that the large, detached garage at Woodview House would be 'ideal for storing rowing boats'. A family of rowers will love its proximity to the National Rowing Centre at Farran Woods. The Lee Golf Club is close too, and the Coachford Greenway, a c 3km trail along the Inniscarra Reservoir, ideal for walking, cycling and angling. Ballyhass Adventure Centre is a short spin away.
Woodview House comes to market with an AMV of €595,000.
VERDICT: Perfect home for a family to put down roots.
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