The challenge of transforming the garden of her home in Coombe near Woodstock inspired Sheena Patterson Patterson to launch her own landscape gardening business.

Ms Patterson, who runs Coombe Garden Design from an office in the five-bedroom house, said: “I have always been a keen gardener and enjoyed improving the outdoor space of the houses where we have lived.

“But when we moved here 13 years ago, the garden was such a blank canvas I thought I would enrol on a garden design course to give me more skills and inspiration.

“My hobby soon became my passion, then my job and I absolutely love what I do.”

Former primary school teacher Ms Patterson and husband Andrew have decided to put their house on the market at a guide price of £895,000.

Ms Patterson explained: “With two of our children at university and the other doing GCSE exams, the house is just too big for us now and the time has come to move on.

“Coombe is a pretty and very friendly village with a particularly good primary school opposite the house.

“When they were younger, our three girls were able to walk there every day.”

Bays Lea, which was built in 1976, was completely refurbished and extended by the Pattersons. The gardens span three-quarters of an acre and include a heated swimming pool surrounded by paving and screened by hedging.

Ms Patterson added: “I divided the garden into three separate areas using hedging plants. As a result, there are lots of archways and enclosed areas which make the garden seem much bigger than it is.

“We open it up to the public each year as part of the village’s open gardens scheme.”

Rooms on the ground floor include a sitting room with bay window, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room with a boot room off, study and games room.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has an ensuite shower room and there is a roof terrace overlooking the back garden. A family bathroom and study area are also on the first floor.

Ronnie van der Ploeg, of agents Savills, said: “This is a very comfortable family home with plenty of living space on the ground floor.

“They are all good-sized bedrooms upstairs so there would be no need for the children to argue over who has which room. It is also very well decorated throughout.”

Bays Lea is on the market through Savills. For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact 01865 339700 or visit www.savills.com