Our horticultural advisor, Alexander Little, has conceived a 3-section garden reflecting common wild landscapes:
- a wildflower meadow
- an open glade with seating
- a woodland area with sub-canopy planting
The design features gentle landscaping and attractive planting to prioritise habitat for bees, bugs, birds, amphibians and small mammals.
As well as offering year-round food and habitat to wildlife, the nature garden will provide dozens of opportunities for delight and discovery for visitors. Exposure to a changing colour palette, and seasonal changes to scent, texture and sound will work well for education and mental health purposes.
The meadow
This part of the site adjacent to the car park gets the best sunlight. Rich in variety, a wildflower meadow with a mown path will attract pollinators and visitors alike. Colour can be introduced earlier by including spring bulbs.
The glade
With a new native hedge to provide seclusion (staggered to preserve sightlines), this area reuses a portion of the existing concrete pad as a base for seating. This will be surrounded by a porous screen of shrubs and perennials to put on successive displays of flowers and berries.
Planting will be selected for shallow rooting because of proximity to the village hall. Two clusters of fruit trees at the foot of the bank will slowly establish, creating blossom and eventually a wild harvest.
The woodland floor
Twin paths continue into the sub-canopy area, which is well-shaded and ideal for woodland planting. Woodland bulbs will appear in spring among native shrubs around the perimeter, while perennials and creeping ground cover will carpet the central space and flower through the summer.
The intertwining paths provide a playful and safe exploration option for children, indicated by log ‘stepping-stones’ on the right-hand circuit. Adults can use the left-hand circuit with sightlines across the perennial planting.
The bank
The slope to the road is currently topped by an existing hedge in poor condition and some trees, including partially coppiced hazel and beech. Gaps will be filled and a new row planted to maximise benefits to nature.
Bulbs will provide an excellent spring display in this area, followed by self-seeded species which offer forage and habitat for bees, butterflies and moths.