WHAT WE DO
We offer a sustianable and useful form of garden design and construction based on certain design principles. We offer a person-centred, output-driven, sustainable and research-led approach. From a completely edible narrowboat garden made from reclaimed urban trees processed in a local sawmill, to an accessible dementia garden complete with a range of activities to bring residents outside, and allow them to benefit from being there.
'Our green spaces can provide us with what we need: food, peace and exercise, in a sustainable and affordable way'
Ornamental Edible
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A big part of what we do includes perennial edible plants. These are plants that are edible, and they live for years, unlike traditional veg. So you only have to plant them once and can harvest food from them for years to come - the most obvious example of this is a fruit tree. Others range from well-known plants like rhubarb and strawberries, to perennial versions of traditional veg such as perennial kale and perennial leeks, to more unusual but just as edible plants such as sea beet (the parent plant of chard and beetroot) and daylillies (of which the roots, shoots and flowers are edible). Edible plants can offer another layer of interest and activity to green spaces, for example in a care home scenario. However they can also offer a meaningful contribution to the diets of the users of the garden, depending on the context.
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The edible aspect of the gardens gives a pathway for those in the garden to connect with nature beyond the traditionally engaged senses of sight, smell and sound... through the experience of taste. It also introduces a two-way reliance with the garden for nourishment which, however small, can serve as a catalyst to a heightened awareness and connection to the garden, nature, food and health... as the trees' health and the season's ebs and flows are directly tied to the sweetness and size of its fruit.
Designing with the user in mind.
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Our design process is guided by feedback, research and hard work. As we make a variety of gardens, for the different contexts we work in, we have to design with the user in mind. Designing and implementing gardens in a public or specialist capacity requires us to take into account many other considerations alongside the layout, materials and planting of a space. We draw on academic research which enables us to stay up to date and informed on exactly what design principles to include in our plans - examples of such principles can be seen in the PROJECTS tab. We take time to gain an understanding of the physical and mental capabilities of the users of the space, as well as the nature of the desired usage and what will be positive and engaging for the users.
Healing.
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There are many studies that show the healing nature of outdoor green spaces. Just as a view of greenery from a hospital window helps patients recover faster, time outdoors helps people with dementia to sync their body clocks with the actual passing of the day as well as to sleep better. Also fresh air and exercise provide vast and numerous benefits to our physical and mental health. The potential effects of outdoor spaces are huge, and whilst some are intuitive - lots are well researched and documented. Guided by research and intuition we design to include and maximise the potential healing effects of outdoor spaces. Depending on the setting, this starts with accessibility - making spaces easy to be enjoyed, and then focusing on encouraging users out into the garden - by setting certain features and vistas in view from inside, and culminates in working on the user’s use of and enjoyment in the green outdoor space.
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Sustainability.
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We wouldn't be doing what we are doing if it wasn't sustainable. Due to our designer's academic background in Environmental Sciences and knowledge of sustainability, we are able to build in sustainability credentials during the design phase. This allows us to seamlessly deliver a garden that performs well, whilst being the sustainable option. This can include using earth-friendly practices such as use of rot-resistant wood (sweet chestnut), to mean garden structures will last longer and won't need replacing, as well as using compacted hardcore instead of CO2-emitting cement. But it also includes using materials from reclaimed timber and aggregates to coppiced wood from UK woods and recycled plastic. For example, we utilise reinforced grass paths using recycled plastic matting, which alongside being wheelchair friendly, allows for more biodiversity, carbon sequestration, greenery, and water penetration.
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The use of edible plants means that more food can be grown closer to where it will be eaten. Not only does this encourage healthy eating (as you are more likely to eat greens if you've grown them) but it reduces the food miles of those vegetables, fruits and salads thus reducing the carbon footprint of the consumer.
Teaching.
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Part of what we offer is an educational service: if applicable we put together educational packs once we hand over the garden. This can take various forms - from a document explaining the maintenance, for example, what parts of the plants to harvest when, to plant labels and plant and other information on plinths, explaining the benefits and practical uses of the garden. For example, how to pick, cook and propagate a variety of the perennial kale included in the garden, and how this will save carbon through the reduction in food miles and poor agricultural processes. This works well in public spaces but can also be a great resource for a school or other educational facility.
We can take care of the whole process, from initial consultation of what you want from the space and any ideas you have, through to fully designing plans and finally the construction phase. Typically we do whole garden spaces however we also undertake works in a smaller capacity which require a more sustainable or specialised approach. If you just want a design, we can provide that too. We mainly operate across the south of England, but we're very adaptable and can work nationwide, so if you're interested or want to ask a question then please GET IN TOUCH. We can send you further details via email or we can arrange a no strings attached site visit, meeting or call, to see if we can help you grow your outside spaces.
