Our design principles and approach for school and community gardens
Every site is different soil, aspect, light/shade, shelter, surrounding buildings etc. We work with clients to bring together these physical elements with their needs and available resources.
More conventional vegetable plots can also be incorporated if the motivation, time and expertise is available.
Forest gardens feed all the senses and are also attractive to wildlife. Flowers attract natural predators and pollinating insects. Some plants are highly scented, and can be used to make soaps. Others have medicinal properties and can be made into relaxing teas.
We are very concerned about the negative impact of gardening on the environment, especially the contribution to climate change. Our designs aim to keep this to a minimum through: - reuse of materials (brick, stone, wooden pallets, containers, sculptures made from rubbish) and recycling (mulch from old newspaper & cardboard, water butt from 200 gallon juice concentrate containers) - use of renewable materials: locally sourced coppiced & windblown timber; wood chips; straw - peat free and organic no artificial fertilisers or pesticides - reduce water consumption through water harvesting & conservation.
We believe gardens have an important educational role for the whole community. We aim to create an edible outdoor classroom which provides a rich learning environment. Forest gardens are ideal tools for delivering all areas of the school curriculum, from maths to design technology. They also help fulfil requirements to provide Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and provide practical input into Healthy Living initiatives. Our designs demonstrate: - the importance of plants (food, scent, medicine, decoration, dye, fuel, fibre, building material, industrial raw material) - our links with other parts of world: origin of plants, role in history, plants in other cultures - practical waste minimisation: composting (kitchen waste, shredded paper & cardboard). - the potential for renewable energy, eg solar lights.
Information about the garden will reinforce these messages leaflets, displays & labelling (where possible produced by children).
Our gardens will have wheelchair access and include elements of a sensory garden for the visually impaired scented plants, varied textured surfaces, wind chimes etc.
Where possible, our designs will allow for future evolution and expansion, eg the addition of new elements plants and sculptures etc.
