One thing that is vitally important is understanding the space that a combined habitat will be in. Part of what I offer is providing a client with an understanding of what can be created within their space and understanding what combinations of wildflowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables will grow best and work towards providing and developing a diverse ecosystem for nature. Key questions for me to evaluate are: How sustainable is it to be? How will the habitat be managed? What level of self-sufficiency is best suited to the environment? How will companion planting support the development of the ecosystem over the months and years? A combined habitat needs to be able to develop and mature over time, with as little management as possible to help it grow and provide a haven for wildlife. By combining wildflowers and flowering herbs with produce, a habitat grows that encourages vital pollinators and insects that in turn keep pests to a minimum and attract predators such as birds and beetles which strengthens the biodiversity of the garden ecosystem on a natural scale. The next stages then require me to take aerial photos with GPS systems such as Google Earth to take measurements and analyse the area from above. This gives a clearer view of how the land lies as well as details into canopy cover and types of vegetation. I will then put together a design of the new space and how I would best lay it out, along with providing a 12-month planting plan complete with what to plant and where for the best results.
More can be read about my gardens as ecosystems through my feature article with Little Green Space Magazine: The garden as an ecosystem | Little Green Space
