What is a forest garden?
It is not an actual forest. It contains plants that create an environment similar to that found at a woodland edge. The goal is to create a multi-storey, self-sustaining ecosystem. We were lucky in that we already had some trees and shrubs growing - there was willow, an old plum tree, hazel, buddleia, and much bramble. A forest garden can incorporate fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines, fungi and perennial vegetables, any plants which are in some way useful - not just edible ones. They could be useful as fibre, or medicinal, or in the dyeing of cloth, for example.
It is a low maintenance and ideally no-dig system that does not need the addition of fertilisers or pesticides.
This method works with nature and uses pollinator friendly plants as well as ones that deters pests. The perennial plants are resistant to disease and resilient in the face of climate change, as well as being more nutritious.
Forest gardens also use less resources than a traditional garden where plants are regularly replaced.
It is hard to believe that our forest garden has been evolving over three years. We can hardly recognise the garden in the photograph!
