basic principles
Common carder bee queen foraging on oxlip in early spring
MAXIMISE ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL
Every site has the potential to sustain biodiverse abundance. It is essential to be guided by the natural environment both within the site – soil, relief, microclimate, existing vegetation - and by the plant communities and features of the surrounding landscape. By nurturing healthy and diverse soil life, selecting plants that are appropriate to the environment, and applying appropriate management techniques, local flora and fauna can profit from the many opportunities created.
Marsh marigold in a carr in damp ash-elder woodland
FUTURE-PROOF
There is something new under the sun …. the extreme climactic changes we see around us year after year. Searing heat, lengthy drought, flash downpours or lengthy periods of rain. By mitigating hot zones, and integrating sustainable water use your own comfort and pleasure in your garden will be enhanced considerably.
Keeping the ecological footprint small
MINIMISE THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Every intervention brings an ecological cost. The soil around the roots of trees and shrubs, for example, teems with life, from bacteria, fungi and microfauna, to insects, worms and burrowing creatures. It is wise (and economic) to restrict interventions to what is strictly necessary. Similarly, re-using available materials on site, and using light-touch approaches where possible, minimises the overall ecological footprint of the garden.