Forest Gardening is a continual growing system (that can be applied to any scale), producing tasty, nutritious, seasonally related food.
It uses a no dig approach, that creates a thriving level of biodiversity and the perfect place to forage.
Forest Gardening:
The derelict field has been carefully planted with a wide range of plants to create a wonderful and delicious edible forest garden. These plants are from all over the world, and also from a similar temperate climate as we have in the UK.
This page explores what a forest garden is, and what forest gardening can offer you.
PHOTO: Simon checking out the ripeness of his favourite Asian pear tree (Photo credit: Harvey Gorst)
With over 40 years practical experience, Simon Miles NCH RHS is a horticulturalist who has always enjoyed a challenge.
His big vision for the past fifteen years, has been to create and develop his own forest garden.
In 2003 he bought a 3.28 acre ex-agricultural field just outside Falmouth in Cornwall, and began the extraordinary process of rejuvenating and regenerating the land.
About Simon
It’s all about the layers
One of the key ideas of forest gardening is the use of vertical and horizontal layered plant canopies to maximise light and space in a mutually beneficial interlocking ecosystem.
This multi-layering of diverse plant species allows a continual succession of harvesting throughout much of the growing season.
Working with Nature not against it!
Forest gardening encourages and re-establishes the harmony that naturally occurs in nature. From Bacteria to Bees it’s all about encouraging what life does naturally.
A Forage Garden
Simon has a particularly good way of describing what his Forest Garden is.
He says that a Forest Garden should be more accurately described as a Forage Garden; a place where he has brought together trees, plants and shrubs, so that instead of wandering for miles collecting odd bits of leaves, roots, nuts and berries, it’s been assembled all ‘under one roof’ as it were.
PHOTO LEFT: It’s all about the produce! People are amazed at the taste and depth of flavour of the Forest Garden produce, off the scale deliciousness!! (Photo Credit: Harvey Gorst)
What is Agroforestry?
Forest gardening is one mode of plant production that comes under the general umbrella of Agroforestry.
Alley cropping examples at Trevozah, Cornwall. (Photo credit: Emma Eberhart)