venue: Redfield Community, BucksThe aim of this course is to de-mystify forest gardening through building participants' confidence in their powers of observation and the development of basic design skills. Careful observation is the key to a good design and to the understanding of how a forest garden works; we shall spend as much time as possible outside in the beautiful grounds of Redfield Community, learning about plant relationships, succession and completing practical tasks to improve and develop the existing forest garden. The course tutor is Mandy Burton who has 20 years experience of permaculture design. She has designed large scale wildlife gardens, woodlands, allotments, formal gardens and over the past five years has combined her passions for food growing and wildlife conservation by learning about and creating community forest gardens. This course is ideal for beginners or people who feel 'stuck'. Have you read the theory yet feel unable to make a start on your own garden? Then come along, be inspired and learn through doing. Preparation for the course Buy or borrow a compass. Draw a plan of your garden (it doesn’t matter if it’s not accurate - pacing out measurements is fine). Include everything i.e. house, shed, hedge, fence, tree, dog etc. - use Google Earth maybe? Put North South East West on your drawing. Indicate any slopes, dips, and hills on your drawing (no matter how small). Observe where frost, water and warmth collect. NB: your drawing doesn't have to be neat, beautiful or to scale. dates: see 'book online' below
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how
to book: |
if you can't open
the booking form, you need Acrobat
Reader - it's free |
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arrive: |
Friday
evening at 6.30 for dinner at 7.30 |
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depart: |
Sunday
after lunch (served at 1.00) |
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directions: |
click here for
directions by bicycle, public transport and car |
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what
to bring: |
pen
and notebook; towel; drawing of your garden (see above); work clothes or overalls; boots / wellies
(meals and bedding are provided) NO DOGS PLEASE |
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let
us know: |
if
you are vegan or have any food allergies, or any special needs |
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accommodation: |
3-4
people sharing single-sex rooms |
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prices: |
£190
high-waged; £170 waged; £150 student / unwaged Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30 admin fee) No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course |
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car
sharing: |
visit
our car
sharing forum to offer or request a lift |
this is a shady, waterlogged site on heavy clay soil. One year ago this site contained nothing but knee-high couch grass and bindweed. It now contains 24 shade and damp tolerant species, mostly edible, including mushrooms. Those that are not edible provide gardening materials, pollen for bees or nitrogen for the other plants. All without digging!
ground cover prevents weed growth and protects the soil from drying out, blowing away, frost and waterlogging. By contrast most orchards have a ground cover of grass. Here there are three layers – damsons; rhubarb/gooseberries; and a ground cover of wild strawberries and Siberian purslane.
