Presently I don’t have a garden, I’m starting with an uncultivated patch of old agricultural land that has been disturbed by heavy plant machinery. My aim is to enhance the land around us to benefit wildlife, living with, rather than destroying the natural environment I live in. So my plan is to create a more formal planting scheme near the house using mainly native planting which merges into more loose natural planting to blend into the landscape beyond.
The barn is set on top of a hill opposite open fields, which means the views are fabulous but the site is very windy and exposed to the weather. The ground is incredibly stoney with pockets of clay. The building is very close to the road so reducing air and noise pollution is important. I’ve planted a hornbeam hedge, which is native to the south east of England, relatively quick growing, hardy to the elements and will give a solid hedge to protect from wind and traffic, which we can keep short to still see the views. Beyond the end of the building I want to reduce the domesticated feel of the land to restore the wild feeling. So I’ve planted native plants such as dog rose, hawthorn, crab apple and hazel to connect with the old field beyond (which we’re currently rewilding). These plants not only provide food and shelter for insects, birds and mammals but look attractive through the seasons.