Permaculture

Garden design

A well designed garden starts with thinking about the whole picture before going into details. When paths are placed where you want to walk, water sources are close to plants that need frequent watering and all the elements you want are included, a garden becomes a joy to be in.

In my garden designs, I use permaculture principles to create gardens that include plants which provide several benefits each e.g. edible crops and shade, flowers to attract beneficial insects and look beautiful. My particular passion is in creating “food forests” which is a way of stacking in plants at different heights and layers to maximise the productivity of the space. Food forests can be designed into the smallest garden.

There’s always scope for adding whatever elements please your individual taste in a garden design.
My style is to create a more natural looking space rather than a formal garden. Curving woodchip paths with spots to sit and enjoy the garden surrounded by fruit, flowers, climbers and vegetables all mixed in together.
I can help with rewilding churchyards as well as gardens. This one is in its early stages and will benefit from more planting of lower layers beneath the trees.

In this time of climate change and species loss, I believe it is important to create gardens that provide habitat for insects, birds and soil life. These creatures bring a further dimension of interest into the garden as well as helping keep pest under control. Healthy garden soil grows healthy fruit and vegetables, bringing free, fresh, nutritious food to your plate.

It is also good to make changes gradually, building on what works and revising what doesn’t. Rather than doing a garden makeover in a matter of weeks, I prefer to have an longer term relationship with clients and their gardens, continuing to improve it over time. My garden design services can include a quarterly, twice yearly or annual review.