We have access to

• Recycled timber boards for making a raised bed
• Compost from the allotment
• Old pallet raiser boards, ideal for making a compost heap box
• Gifted a plastic compost bin that was no longer needed by a friend
• Gifted a 6x5ft greenhouse that was no longer needed by a friend
• Gifted two very large plastic barrels which once contained mango’s, ideal for water storage
• Gifted one water butt that was no longer needed by a friend
• Gifted garden tools from our next-door neighbour that were no longer needed
• Gifted a lawnmower from our next-door neighbour that was no longer needed
• Gifted various sized plant pots

The site

The paving slab path running the length of the garden to the front door needs to be levelled out due to the slabs moving over time. The lawn to be replaced with areas for growing food and a permanent area created for composting.

 

Our Wants

What we want to get out of this site will be achievable with the resources we have. The budget for the first couple of years will be spent mostly on seeds and compost. Years three on wards some of the budget will go towards the materials for adding the extra elements into the design.

 

Zone

With access to the garden directly from the front door, a zone one garden design will work very well (See Appendix).

 

Network

The main access into the house is by the path that runs straight through the garden, it would be sensible to use this as an advantage for growing picking salads next to it and other summer picking crops such as courgettes. This would create a centre of human attention and activity and would make harvesting quick and easy on wetter days.    

 

Sector

The neighbour’s house wall will give a section of the garden which will be warmer on an evening due to the residual heat the walls will give off. Along with the protection from the wind, this will give a more protected micro-climate. The large concrete paving slabs will also capture heat during the day so will give another micro-climate with warmer temperatures for growing food.

 

Elevation

Due to the site located three quarters the way up a large hill, cold air will tend to keep moving downhill preventing early and late frosts in the garden. Using the slope of the neighbour’s garden for water harvesting, planting the main vegetable bed here would be an advantage.

Capturing water from the house roof gutters and storing into barrels we will be able to gravity water half of the garden.