Woodland Natural Garden

When being invited to design a garden that already presents with a number of established trees there is always the conflict - do you remove the trees from the design and start with a blank canvas or do you create a design that utilises the trees? Design Outside will listen to the requirements of the client and usually enlist the expertise of a tree surgeon before a final decision to remove an established tree is taken. Notification to the Local Authority is also required in the case of any Tree Preservation Orders.

Gardens dominated by trees provide the client with an opportunity for a woodland garden. Some tree canopies make the establishment of a garden quite challenging as in the case of Fagus sylvatica, the beech or Acer pseudoplatanus,the sycamore both casting heavy shadow and taking nutrients and moisture from the soil.

The skill in establishing a difficult site is in the planning, preparation and selection of plant material for the chosen area. When selecting suitable plant material, consideration is given to the soil conditions and natural cycle of the tree canopy. This is how nature works in our native woodlands and this is a good edict to mimic.

Equally woodland gardens can be started from scratch. The inclusion of a woodland garden within a design can add to the quality of a garden by providing an ecologically sound area that provides a strong seasonal influence to the garden. In an urban location this can also provide the client with a rapid escape from the noise and bustle of city or town life as the garden provides a peaceful envelope to the adjacent sights and sounds of urban life.

The planting of a woodland garden does not necessarily require the exclusive use of native plants or a large area. Many perennials, shrubs and trees can be used to create a garden in the style of a woodland garden and in a relatively confined space. However, to be most effective at encouraging wildlife into your garden a proportion of planting needs to be true to our native planting. This provides the cyclical balance of food required to establish a thriving ecosystem.

The designer Eileen is happy to take design commissions for a woodland garden or to incorporate aspects of a woodland garden into your garden design project regardless of the size.