Ecology, Sustainability and Environmental Design

Not posted since we started back in September as just been crazy busy!

Projects are going well and have been really interesting.  The last few months have been taken up with assignments on ecology, sustainability and environmental design.  The first, the ecology assignment, I loved and it made me regret I had not done a degree in ecology instead of garden design!   

However, I had to get over it and move on with the other assignments.  Equally as interesting, the next project was studying the characteristics and features of sustainable garden design and construction, encompassing the environmental consideration in terms of wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole, as well as the hard and soft landscaping aspects that need to be considered.  This is going to be quite simply at the core of all of my design work. 

Putting in place the correct landscape management systems to successfully cope with the extremes of water drainage and drought conditions that we are increasingly experiencing is fundamental to the long term success of any garden design as much as is choosing materials from sustainably managed resources and employing construction methods that will endure the test of time whilst reducing impact on the environment as a whole.

Planting for Wildlife - Small Tortoiseshell butterfly and honey bees on Sedum spectabile

Equally important is to ensure materials and planting fit appropriately in the setting where they are being used, using local material in keeping with the wider environment and ensuring plant selection is appropriate for the conditions. 

Not to mention all the wildlife, soil and plant management infrastructure that goes with a well-balanced ‘environmentally friendly’ garden.   Each topic deserves its own discussion page!