Forest Garden Workshop 14 th Jan 2012

1. Forest Garden Workshop14th Jan 2012

2. Today’s programme • 9.45 – 10.00 Tea/ coffee • 10.00 Welcome, introductions • 10.15 Talk on forest gardens • 11.00 Tour, planting demonstration and planting Derby Telegraph • 12.30 Lunch • 2.00 Planting Melbourne Village Voice • 3.00 Feedback and finish

3. What is a Forest Garden? • A garden modelled on natural woodland • Utilises plants of direct and indirect benefit to people • Contains edible plants • All layers of the woodland are utilised – large trees, small trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, herbs, annuals, root crops and climbers • Planted to maximise positive interactions (eg fertility) and minimise negative interactions (eg pests and diseases)

4. What is a Forest Garden? • Useful – food, eg fruit, nuts, salads, flowers, vegetables, herbs - timber, medicines, dyes, craft materials, tying materials, garden canes, fodder, bee plants, and more! • Low-maintenance after initial planting, compared to annual production. • Also known as “woodland gardens”, “food forests” “agroforestry” • Can be any size – if your garden can fit in a tree, it can become a forest garden • Part of a design philosophy called Permaculture.

5. What is Permaculture? • The creation of sustainable, agriculturally productive, non-polluting and healthy settlements • Organic • Systems that mimic natural eco-systems • A design approach, incorporating an ethical framework (earth care, people care and fair shares) • A set of principles to follow when designing systems • Applied common sense • Easy to study in an introductory weekend; a part-time Permaculture Design Certificate or a follow-on Diploma.

6. Why here at St Brides? • 9 acre smallholding, formerly medieval monastery and farm since c1600 • An experiment in co-generational living! • Some level of self-sufficiency – fruit and veg, chickens, turkeys, bees, Angora goats (fleece) • Traditional veg beds, soft fruit beds, an orchard (apples, pears, plums and cherries), greenhouse, herb gardens • The next step is to have a low-maintenance edible woodland – introduce new varieties, eg nuts, unusual fruits, dye materials • An opportunity to educate/inform/ improve resilience locally • A “trial-run” for the Melbourne Community Woodland

7. National Forest • Transforming 200 square miles across the Midlands • 8 million new trees already planted • National Forest offer grants for planting trees including orchards, free trees for back gardens and practical support for everyone with a garden or land in the National Forest area. • National Forest Wood Fair Beacon Hill, August bank holiday Sunday and Monday

8. Changing Landscapes at St Brides • National Forest Changing Landscapes Scheme - convert around 6 acres to woodland and parkland – the Forest Garden is in the scheme. Also “edible parkland”, ponds, stream, traditional native broadleaf planting for timber (to fuel woodburner/hotwater/heating) . • A permaculture design • Increased public access, education.

9. Some examples – small and large Robert Hart – Wenlock Edge, Shropshire Martin Crawford’s Garden, Dartington, Devon

10. Clarence House - the Home of Prince Charles Chickenshack housing co-op North Wales

11. Ecoworks Nottingham – St Ann’s Allotments SilverhillPrimar School Derby

12. The Seven Layers

13. Choice of plants • Most useful to your situation • Eatable (not just edible) • Consider toxicity • Think ahead • If you’ve got the space, try something new

14. The canopy layer - trees • Italian Alder – nitrogen fixer • Medlar • Crab Apple • CydoniaOblonga (Quince) • Apple – Howgate Wonder • Plum – Marjorie’s seeding • Damson • Elder

15. Mulberry • Gingko • Lime (TiliaCordata)– leaves and plant support for Kiwis • Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) • Zanthoxylum • Eleagnusumbellata • American Elder • Eucalyptus • Other possibles: walnut, chestnut, almond, pear, cherry, sea buckthorn, sloe, bay

16. The shrub layer • Eleagnus – nitrogen fixer • Bamboo • Honey berry • Goji berry • Chaenomeles (Quince) • Hazel • Amelanchier (Juneberry)

17. Blackcurrants • Gooseberries • Redcurrants • Whitecurrants • Raspberries • Phormiumtenax • Cornus “Flaviramea” • Genistatinctoria • Other possibles: blackberry, blueberry, juniper, roses, cranberry, rosemary, sage, lavender

18. Perennial/ Groundcover layer • Comfrey – mineral accumulator • Strawberries • Mint • Rubustricolor • Rubus “Betty ashburner” • Sweet cicely • Nasturtium • Feverfew • Marjoram

19. Globe artichokes • Lemon balm • Horseradish • Rhubarb • Echinacea • Goldenrod • Pulmonariaofficinalis (lungwort) • Other possibles: wild garlic, rocket, centranthusruber (valerian), sorrel, soapwort

20. Forest Garden creation • Fertility – nitrogen fixers (eg Alder, Eleagnus) mineral accumulators (eg comfrey) • Orientation/Shade – placing of plants • Humidity – rainfall and soil moisture • Temperature/exposure • Soil pH • Soil compaction • Draw a plan – consider ultimate size of trees • Can you use existing trees/plants/shrubs?

21. Forest Garden Creation • When? – trees planted bare-root Nov – March - tender trees planted March to April - Ground-cover plants and herbaceous perennials best planted Spring • Mulching • to kill grass/weeds, prevents moisture loss • Chipped bark (composted), straw, grass mowings • Tree mulch mats (biodegradable), ground-cover fabric, thick cardboard, newspapers, old carpet • For perennials (not trees) add fertility materials under mulch if required (leafmould, organic mushroom compost, garden compost, manure) • Sheet mulching in advance for 6 – 12 months (or pigs or chickens) • Sowing green manure • Mycorrhizal treatment • A staged approach

22. How do forest gardens fit? • All shapes and sizes • Part of a new way at looking at forestry? • Back-garden food forests • Community food forests • Low maintenance • Part of the transition to a re-localised economy

23. Who are Melbourne Area Transition? • Part of the Transition Network • A group of local people • Only 1 year old • Ways to make Melbourne area more sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change and the end of cheap oil • Successes – 10kw solar pv on Melbourne Parish Church, domestic solar buying group, community woodland, promoting insulation and energy saving, beekeeping evening, talks to local groups, bringing people together. • 2012 – programme of events (3rd Wednesday evening) • www.melbournetransition.org – join Yahoo group

24. Melbourne community woodland • 19 hectares owned by Forestry Commission next to Robin Wood • Blank canvas plus use of Robin Wood – existing large woodland • Community wish to plant a Forest Garden/orchards and grow other fruit/edibles • Ideas include: amphitheatre, a venue for celebrations, a course centre, ponds, leisure opportunities (eg mountain biking, horseriding) • An example of community permaculture • Input from individuals and local groups • An exciting project showcasing the future of local food, resource production and community engagement.

25. Resources • Creating a Forest Garden by Martin Crawford • How to Make a Forest Garden by Patrick Whitefield • Forest Gardening by Robert Hart Suppliers: • Agroforestry Research Trust (Martin Crawford) www.agroforestry.co.uk • Cool temperate (Phil Corbett) (near Nottingham) www.cooltemperate.co.uk • Coles Nurseries, Thurnby, Leics www.colesnurseries.co.uk • Deacon’s Nurseries (fruit trees, isle of wight) www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk • Buckingham Nurseries (edible hazelnuts) www.hedging.co.uk • Staunton Harold Nurseries