Furniture Design Ideas

One of the most varied planting styles that fulfils our criteria of being ecological involves the use of plants that are not necessarily native to the area but are chosen on the basis of a close match between their ecological needs and a careful analysis of the conditions prevailing at the planting site. Such plantings […]

Ecologically inspired annual plantings have a more recent history than those that use perennials. Yet they have enormous potential and, ironically, largescale projects may sometimes give better value for money than perennials. Their potential lies with their visual impact and ease of growth. The general public like and, to some extent, expect bright colour from […]

Building upon the ideas espoused by Robinson (1870), James Hitchmough started a programme of research in 1994 aimed at assessing the feasibility of establishing mixed native-exotic meadows, i. e. a sown matrix of native grasses and forbs but with added interest from planted exotic forbs, chiefly mainland European and Asian species. British wildflower meadows are […]

One of the most inspired and determined efforts at creating a garden that relies on a matrix of native vegetation and exotics is the ‘marginal garden’ of Professor Geoffrey Dutton in the Scottish Highlands. At an altitude of 275 m at 57 degrees of latitude, the climate is indeed ‘marginal’ for any kind of cultivation. […]

Woodland edge habitats offer a variety of ecological niches both spatially and over time. The addition of flowering perennials to the strip that abuts woodland is a feature that adds considerably to its aesthetic value, whilst the development of a ground layer amidst shrubby vegetation could make a considerable difference to the appearance of large […]

British woodland gardens are often extensive and largely feature flowering shrubs beneath a canopy of native trees, with oak (Quercus robur, Q. petraea) being favoured for its compatability with a rich ground and shrub layer. The ground layer can become quite rich and sometimes quite visually exciting, but almost by default, as management practices such […]

Key to an understanding of the range of planting styles that can be described as ecological is the variety of attitudes to the use of native plants. The intensity of the debate between those who restrict themselves to native-only plantings and those who use non­natives (‘exotics’) varies considerably from country to country, with considerable implications […]

The idea of adding spice to pre-existing native vegetation is an old one, and was the core idea of William Robinson’s (1870) The Wild Garden’ (Robinson 1870). Whilst some in the ‘nativist’ lobby may find the idea appalling, it is a recognition that local floras do not always have the aesthetic appeal that we might […]

A common feature of urban and post-industrial environments is the rich but often rather chaotic looking vegetation that arises after the demolition of existing structures. Public perception is likely to see this only as ‘weedy’, whereas, with time, unique and complex habitats can develop. Landscape and ecology practitioners in Germany have led the way 3.5 […]

The Amsterdam suburb of Amstelveen was built during the 1930s along with a number of public parks, most centred around a number of waterways that wind their way through the peaty acidic soil. During the period from 1941 and 1972, garden designer and city architect Chris P. Broerse was involved in creating a series of […]