THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
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Forest Gardening

The forest garden at The Sustainability Centre was originally created by volunteers in 1999. It followed a design by Patrick Whitefield, the eminent permaculture author and forest-gardening guru.

The underlying concept of forest-gardening is to mimic the ecosystem of natural woodland to create a highly productive landscape for human use. Instead of bare soil planted with neat rows of annual veg and vast orchards of a single fruit species, the forest-gardener aims to plant a diverse tapestry of edible and useful plants. Beneficial relationships between plants, site and soil are developed to create a garden where ground-hugging perennial vegetables grow amongst herbs and soft fruit bushes, which in turn are sheltered under the canopy of trees yielding nuts and fruits.

Forest gardens can be created on any scale, and with careful planning should be a very low-maintenance way of growing food whilst also creating a beautiful wildlife-rich environment. The use of mulches and careful selection of species mean that the garden can largely be left to its own devices. As Patrick says, "The main task is picking the produce!"

Forest gardening follows many of the principles of Permaculture. The word Permaculture originated in the 1970s from the writings of Bill Mollison, and was originally a fusion of the words "permanent" and "agriculture" (or possibly "culture"). Permaculture design relies on a process of careful observation and planning to seek out beneficial relationships between all parts that make up a system, whether that be a farm, garden, home or community. The basis of Permaculture is to provide thoughtful, environmentally sound solutions and creative use of resources, following the ethics of: "Earth care, People care, Fair shares".
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Here at The Sustainability Centre we use Permaculture as a major inspiration in the design of our numerous activities. We are lucky enough to share our site with Permaculture Magazine producers Permanent Publications who also publish many books on the topic of sustainable living.

Our forest garden flanks the pathway leading up to our visitor reception. Much of the original planting has flourished, and current harvests include apples, cherries, rosehips, gojiberries, currants and gooseberries.

We are currently engaged in identifying and recording all of the original and existing species in order to label the plants and highlight their uses to our visitors. 

Our next step is to prepare some areas for re-stocking which will include mulching the grassed areas and removing some unwanted invasive species.

In addition to work in our forest garden, volunteers are continually engaged in the upkeep of our herb and wildlife gardens as well as planting up our camping area with numerous fruit trees, including figs, walnuts and olives.

We aim to inspire visitors with an attractive landscape abundant in useful and edible plants. We believe that a forest garden system can yield a far greater harvest than conventional monoculture growing systems - and that integrating living, working and growing spaces is vital to a healthy human environment.
​
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Donations

Charity Number ​​ 1079866

Earthworks Trust & Earthworks Foundation

​The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No.1079866).
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation. All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.
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Main Address

The Sustainability Centre 
​Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823166

Reception

01730 823166
​info@sustainability-centre.org

South Downs Eco Lodge & Camp Site

South Downs Eco Lodge
​The Sustainability Centre 
​
Droxford Road,
East Meon, Hants
​GU32 1HR
01730 823549
​​accommodation@sustainability-centre.org

Cafe

01730 823755
infobeechcafe@gmail.com  

Burials

​01730 823425
​burials@sustainability-centre.org

Education

​01730 823166
​education@sustainability-centre.org

Courses

01730 823166
​courses@sustainability-centre.org

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  • Home
    • Coronavirus Announcement >
      • Booking Options Form
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us >
      • History
    • Awards
    • Bursary
    • Beech Cafe
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partnerships >
      • Onsite Partners
    • Site Map >
      • Map
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List
  • Eco Active Blog
    • Health
    • Meditation
    • On The Wild Side
    • Grow Now
    • Young People
    • Art & Craft
  • Our Future
    • Ready Steady Grow
    • New Learning Centre
    • South Downs Eco Lodge
  • Projects
    • Beekeepers
    • Chalk Grassland
    • Compost Toilet
    • Forest Gardening
    • Permaculture
    • Straw Bale Solar Powered Showers
    • Solar Projects
    • The Woodland Hall
    • Tree Bog
    • Wetherdown Lodge
    • Wetland Ecosystem Treatment
    • Yurts
  • Support Us
    • Friends >
      • Become a Friend
      • Friends Field
    • Business >
      • Business Friends
    • Leaves For Learning Appeal >
      • Fundraise for us
      • Hedgehog Eco Challenge
    • Gifts & Donations
    • Donation Form
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
  • Courses
    • Adult Courses >
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Book Making Course
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Gate Hurdle Making Course
        • Heritage Basket Making Course
        • Pendant Carving Course
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Stool Carving Course
        • Trug Making Course
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Bowls Course
        • Willow Coffin Course
        • Willow Dragonflies Course
        • Willow Festive Decorations Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Garden Sculpture
        • Willow Obelisks Course
      • Food and Gardening Courses >
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Cordial Making Course
        • Deer Butchery Course
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Forest School Assistant Training
        • Forest School Taster Day
        • Lost Words Training Course
      • Health & Wellbeing Courses >
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Mental Health First Aid Course
        • Natural Wellbeing Course
      • Natural Building Courses >
        • Eco-Refurbishment
        • Roundwood Timber Framing Course
      • Nature Connection and Folklore Courses >
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Nature Connection
        • Nature Led Meditation
        • Woodland Folklore Course
        • Unwind in the Woods
      • Permaculture Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management
    • Children's Workshops >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Children's Holiday Workshops
    • Bespoke Courses
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
    • Courses Covid Information
  • Schools
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips
    • Residentials
    • Farm Tours
    • Saxon Experience
    • Forest School
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • We Can Come to Your School
    • Colleges and Universities
    • Training for Teachers
    • Meet the Team
    • Useful Information & Booking Forms
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Accommodation
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • What's On
    • Art Exhibitions >
      • Past Exhibitions
      • Pete Levy
    • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Online Experiences
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Talk & Tour
    • Your Events
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies and Gifts
    • Donations
  • Shop and Bookings
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Online T Shirt Shop
    • Online Eco Shop
    • Shop At The Centre