Research reports
Forest garden baseline survey
This was the first ever baseline survey of temperate forest gardens across Europe and North America. It is based on four separate surveys of temperate forest carried out in between 2011 and 2016. A report covering 130 sites was first published in November 2014 on the Permaculture Association's website. Information about location and age of existing forest gardens, their owners' goals and achievements, the most common species and maintenance isues and what resources people have gathered.
The full dataset of this and two subsequent surveys is available on request, with 244 sites in total. A journal article for peer reviewed publication is in progress. A summary of our findings was presented at the International Forest Garden and Food Forest Symposium in 2021. The presentation slides can be accessed via the Researchgate platform, or contact me to share them with you. You can also request the 2014 report directly from me.
Ten-year participatory trial
The first ever participatory trial of forest gardens, this 10-year project started in 2011 and involves ten sites in the UK. The purpose was twofold: to learn about the establishment phase of forest gardens, and to learn about participatory research.
We concluded the trial in 2021 with the help of Karina Ponton who wrote up her findings as part of her MSc in agroforestry. The Final Reoprt of the trial and an Executive summary are available via the Permaculture Association website website. You can also download Karina's dissertation and some of her datasets from the same page.
Robert Hart's forest garden - a review
This is the forest garden that started it all. Robert Hart's garden in the Shrophisre Hills was the pioneering site that inspired hunderds of others and sparked the movement we are part of today. Unfortunately the site was abandoned after his death in 2000, but Robert's story and what remains of the planting still holds fascinating lessons for forest gardeners today.
In 2017 when small group of local permaculturists and experienced forest gardeners was granted access to Robert Hart's pioneering site, which is now a private residence. Based on our two visits I co-wrote a report together with Jon Kean from Shropshire and Edges Permaculture Network (SEPNet). We followed up on the visit with additional research and the report summarises our observations and reflections. You can access the report via the Researchgate platform, or you can get in touch and I will send you a copy.
Sounds and Vision
Presentation at Coventry University's agroecology centre CAWR. The one-hour talk describes the potential of forest gardens as high-yielding, biodiverse and socially vibrant spaces, highlights future opportunities and challenges and explores the relationship between forest garden practice and agroecological theory. It also includes a discussion of the relationship between agroecological theory and forest garden practice.
Interview: Lessons from 30 years of forest gardening
Recently I did a 30-minute interview with permaculture podcaster Daniel Tyrkiel. We covered a lot of ground, and it gives you a good overview of the research I have tried to compress into this book. The interview is now available on Daniel's website, just as the book is going to print.
In Daniel's own words,
"Forest gardens - yes, we've heard it all before, right? Wrong. It's just beginning. Only now we're beginning to see examples of consciously designed, multi-layer assemblies well into establishment. Tomas has spent the past few years contacting, cataloging, and recording temperate climate forest gardens around the world. This research project was done with the help and blessing of the UK Permaculture Association, and has resulted in a book (coming out this month!). This book is set to be the most up to date resource, with real life examples of what works, in multiple scales. It will feature an ecology primer, the case studies, and a step by step guide to making your own. In addition to dry information, the book has been filled with high quality images of what Tomas has found during his research."
Listen to the podcast here.
The Guilds of a forest garden - video series
In May 2020, I gave a presentation on the permaculture concept of guilds applied to forest gardening, as part of a series of free webinars hosted by the National Forest Gardening Scheme. Here it is uploaded in three parts for easier consumption. My aim was to familiarise people with the underlying ecological concepts, and to show a few examples how these ideas can be put into practice. As highlighted in part 2, it is less about finding some magic plant combinations that always work, but more about undertsanding what works in your place and for your needs.
Part 1: The Ecology behind Guilds
Part 2: Designed Guilds in the Forest Garden
Part 3: Questions & Answers
This video also contains the whole part 2 of the slide show (though delivered differently). If you want to skip this part you can fast forward from 3:40 mins to 17:45 mins.
Successful Commercial Polycultures
In my presentation on Successful Commercial Polycultures at this year's Oxford Real Farming Conference, I presented several case studies of growers who manage to make multi-layer crop systems work. I tried to draw out lessons for aspiring polyculture growers. and highlight factors that are pre-conditions for successful growing of polycultures. Multi-species cropping systems are not new on our farms, but through good design we can make them work even better for farmers and the landscape as a whole.
Resource sheets
Yield record sheet
Useful Links
The Open Food network
OFN UK is a Platform Cooperative - a part of the Solidarity or Sharing Economy. The OFN UK team have been working since 2014 to extend to OFN software, adding the features UK Food Hubs need. In January 2016 the team secured funding for a national roll out. OFN UK is now a fast-growing co-operative of producers and food enterprises across the UK. Taking part is simple, and much fairer than in the supermarket - whether you are a producer or shopper.