Us and the environment
We like to think that as proper gardeners we should be doing our bit for the environment as a matter of course. Half the battle can be won by using materials sparingly, recycling materials that are already present within the garden and undertaking sound horticultural practise - that’s our baseline. Looking out for the environment is not rocket science after all – in fact its very much the opposite of rocket science: we look after the soil, we keep plants healthy as opposed to ripping them out and hopefully you let us plant a few more, and all the while we keep an eye on the materials we are using and just where they are coming from and checking up on what impact those materials will be having on the environment.
Obviously we can’t force our clients to let us turn their gardens green with foliage and we can’t make you use locally sourced materials; we wouldn’t insist that you balance hard landscaping with more environmentally beneficial soft landscaping such as planting and lawns, but we will certainly suggest all of the above as an option.
If we had our way all our gardens would adhere to the following principles:
A minimum ratio of 50/50 for planting and lawn area to hard landscaped areas such as decking and paving. We would ideally improve on existing plantings with extensive ornamental plantings that would both attract wildlife as well as make your garden a more beautiful place, a place that is both cooler and more private to sit and relax in.
The planting of a least one small or medium sized tree in every garden we work in; its about shade, privacy, wildlife and locking up a bit more carbon. To this end we offer a stand alone supply and plant service for any customer who might wants to plant a tree but lacks the resources, know how or resolve.
The installation of a small pool or pond, minus excessively power hungry mains pump or lighting! Ponds provide for breeding amphibians, feeding birds and animals and all the other natural joys that come with even the smallest of ponds.
The recycling of all broken rubble / paving either as sub-base, footings or soak-a ways or for re-use / re-laying as new paving.
To use locally sourced aggregates and geo-textiles as an alternative to hard paving materials – its cheaper, less damaging to the environment and it allows drainage, and you can plant through it!
The minimal use of cement, preferring instead to use compacted self binding aggregates, recycled rubble and the briefest of skims of sand and cement. We also use compacted chalk subsoil materials with small quantities of cement for walling where possible alongside lime render.
Friendly timber: we prefer to use purely European timber, preferably locally grown un-treated Western red cedar and oak - which is French I’m ashamed to say – because our oak just isn’t up to scratch. We are also happy to experiment with rustic round wood timber, having made structures and furniture out of locally sourced hornbeam and sweet chestnut.
The protection and improvement of the soil: soil contains large quantities of carbon – it’s the life and soul of the garden - its ancient stuff and it is the basis of modern life as we know it, so let’s show soil the respect it deserves. We look very dimly on those who would have us dump soil in a skip or bury decent soil it under acres of paving. What we really want to do with your soil is to either move it and use it elsewhere or improve it with recycled green waste and plant it up with lots of fantastic planting, or maybe put it down to some good old fashioned lawn.
Plants you can eat: we always encourage our clients to think about including plants that can be used within the kitchen, or maybe just plucked from the tree and eaten. It might just be a few ornamental herbs tucked away in a sunny spot or in a planter by the kitchen window, or it might be a fruit tree or two, or an dedicated area of raised beds for some ernest growing of vegetables for the plate.
