• About Us
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    • ​Leave a Review
  • Whats On
    • Much Ado About Nothing
    • Summer Solstice Walk
    • Folk in the Forest
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Event Refund Policy
  • Courses
    • Courses Diary >
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Forager's Backpack
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Peony Plant Support Course
        • Willow Garden Obelisk Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Living Willow Tree Course
      • Wellbeing Courses >
        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
        • Menopause Wellness Retreat
        • Creative Forest Bathing & Therapeutic Sound day
        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
        • Off-loom Weaving Workshop
        • Natural Ink Making Workshop
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Rough Play in Natural World Settings with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management Course
    • Gift Cards for Courses
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Group Accommodation
    • Gift Cards for Accommodation
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips >
      • Saxon Experience
    • Residentials >
      • Residential Accommodation
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    • Group Bookings >
      • Colleges and Universities
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Forest School >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Forest School 6 - 16 Years
      • Forest School Training
    • For Teachers >
      • Fair Share Fund
      • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
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  • Knowledge Hub
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    • Greener Homes >
      • Advice Sheets
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      • Land Management >
        • Beekeepers
        • Chalk Grassland
        • Coppice
        • Forest Gardening
        • Herb Gardens
        • Mini Meadow
        • Nettles & Brambles
        • Permaculture
        • Ponds
      • Building & Structures >
        • Accommodation Eco Retrofit
        • Compost Toilet
        • Low Impact Building
        • Solar Projects
        • Tree Bog
        • Wetherdown Lodge
        • Woodland Hall
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    • Articles >
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THE SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE
  • About Us
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partner Organisations
    • ​Leave a Review
  • Whats On
    • Much Ado About Nothing
    • Summer Solstice Walk
    • Folk in the Forest
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Event Refund Policy
  • Courses
    • Courses Diary >
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Forager's Backpack
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Peony Plant Support Course
        • Willow Garden Obelisk Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Living Willow Tree Course
      • Wellbeing Courses >
        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
        • Menopause Wellness Retreat
        • Creative Forest Bathing & Therapeutic Sound day
        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
        • Off-loom Weaving Workshop
        • Natural Ink Making Workshop
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Rough Play in Natural World Settings with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management Course
    • Gift Cards for Courses
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Group Accommodation
    • Gift Cards for Accommodation
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips >
      • Saxon Experience
    • Residentials >
      • Residential Accommodation
      • Farm Tours
    • Group Bookings >
      • Colleges and Universities
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Forest School >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Forest School 6 - 16 Years
      • Forest School Training
    • For Teachers >
      • Fair Share Fund
      • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
  • Support Us
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Donations
    • Friends >
      • Business Friends >
        • Business Friends
    • Fair Share Fund
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Cast Off
    • Give As You Shop
  • Knowledge Hub
    • Sustainability Wheel
    • Ask an Expert
    • Greener Homes >
      • Advice Sheets
    • Projects >
      • Land Management >
        • Beekeepers
        • Chalk Grassland
        • Coppice
        • Forest Gardening
        • Herb Gardens
        • Mini Meadow
        • Nettles & Brambles
        • Permaculture
        • Ponds
      • Building & Structures >
        • Accommodation Eco Retrofit
        • Compost Toilet
        • Low Impact Building
        • Solar Projects
        • Tree Bog
        • Wetherdown Lodge
        • Woodland Hall
        • Yurts
    • Articles >
      • Art & Craft
      • Growing
      • Health
      • Meditation
      • Weaving Willow
      • Young People
  • Donate & Buy
    • Eco Shop
    • Eco T-Shirts
    • Gift Cards
    • Donations
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Talk & Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List
Picture
Picture

Forest Gardening

The Forest Garden at The Sustainability Centre was originally created by volunteers in 1999. It followed a design by Patrick Whitefield (1949-2015).  Patrick was a Leading Permaculture teacher and renowned design consultant, inspiring an immeasurable amount of people with his deep knowledge of, and passion for, Permaculture.
The underlying concept of the Forest Garden is to mimic the ecosystem of natural woodland to create a productive landscape where people can harvest food. Different plants grow alongside one another, space is optimised and wildlife thrives. Instead of bare soil planted with rows of annuals and vast orchards of a single fruit species, the Forest Gardener aims to plant a diverse tapestry of edibles, wildlife friendly and perhaps even medicinal plants. Companion plants, those that fix nitrogen, make good fertiliser or attract beneficial insects to control pests are all carefully integrated. 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 always said: “The main task is picking the produce!"

Forest Gardening follows the principles of Permaculture. The word Permaculture is a fusion of ‘permanent agriculture’/’permanent culture’. It originated in the 1970s from the work of Bill Mollison and David Holmgren. 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, business 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". ​
Here at The Sustainability Centre we have used these Permaculture principles to develop our Sustainability Wheel, which is reflected throughout our entire organisational ethos. It helps with programme and project planning and guides us when decision-making.
Picture
​Visitors walk through the Forest Garden as they approach our Reception. We love the fact that our small Forest Garden is tangible for those with limited garden space. By showcasing this growing and gardening technique, we aim to inspire people to take home some of these ideas: whether it be experimenting with perennial edibles or thinking more about the vertical space available by stacking different layers of plants into a garden bed. 

​We are grateful to our amazing team of volunteers who help with the maintenance of this garden. Much of the original planting has flourished and we enjoy harvests of numerous different goodies including jostaberries, Babington’s leek, herbs, nuts, apples, currants, medlars and gooseberries.
HEALTH AND SAFETY DISCLAIMER
When visiting our site please take appropriate care, some areas have uneven surfaces with trip hazards associated with the great outdoors - conditions can be slippery in wet weather. Please ensure that you dress for the outdoors and bring footwear suitable for all types of weather. The Sustainability Centre will not accept responsibility for any injuries sustained by visitors.  
​EARTHWORKS TRUST  ​
The Sustainability Centre is owned and operated by ​The Earthworks Trust (Charity No. 1079866).
EARTHWORKS FOUNDATION
Our trading company is Earthworks Foundation.
​All profits go to support our charity The Earthworks Trust.




​Charity Number ​

​​1079866
​


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Picture

Main Address

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

Reception

01730 823166
​[email protected]

Cafe

01730 823755
[email protected]  

South Downs Eco Lodge ​& Camp Site

01730 823549
[email protected]

Burials

​01730 823425
​[email protected]

Education

​[email protected]

Courses

​[email protected]

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  • About Us
    • What Is Sustainability
    • All About Us
    • Awards
    • Staff Team & Trustees
    • Job Opportunities
    • Partner Organisations
    • ​Leave a Review
  • Whats On
    • Much Ado About Nothing
    • Summer Solstice Walk
    • Folk in the Forest
    • South Downs Green Fair
    • Event Refund Policy
  • Courses
    • Courses Diary >
      • Willow Craft Courses >
        • Willow Forager's Backpack
        • Willow Weaving Weekend
        • Willow Bird Feeders Course
        • Willow Peony Plant Support Course
        • Willow Garden Obelisk Course
        • Willow Frame Basket Course
        • Willow Reindeer Course
        • Living Willow Tree Course
      • Wellbeing Courses >
        • Bushcraft Skills: One or two day
        • Menopause Wellness Retreat
        • Creative Forest Bathing & Therapeutic Sound day
        • Nature Led Meditation Evening
        • Unwind in the Woods Retreat
        • Foraging, Fire and Folklore
        • Medicinal Herb Workshops
        • Soundbath Evening
      • Craft and Upcycling Courses >
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop:Herbal Bathroom Day
        • Off-loom Weaving Workshop
        • Natural Ink Making Workshop
        • Fabric Baskets Course
        • Natural Cosmetics Workshop
      • Home and Garden Courses >
        • Intro to Permaculture Design Course
        • Natural Cleaning Workshop
        • Composting Masterclass
        • Kitchen Gardening Course
        • Gardening in a Changing Climate Course
        • Clay Oven Building Course
        • Mushroom Cultivation Course
        • Compost Toilets Course
      • Wood Craft Courses >
        • Spoon Carving Course
        • Shrink Pot Carving Course
        • Devon Stave Basket Making Course
        • Advanced Knife Skills Course
        • Woodworking Skills for Women Course
      • Forest School Training >
        • Supporting Children through Anxiety and Trauma with Jon Cree
        • Rough Play in Natural World Settings with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Leader Training
        • Climbing Frames, Ropes & Ladders Course with Jon Cree
        • Forest School Taster Day
      • Sustainable Land Management Courses >
        • Wildflower Identification Workshop
        • Coppicing Course
        • Hedgelaying Course
        • Wildflower Meadows Course
        • Woodland Management Course
    • Gift Cards for Courses
    • Courses Waiting List
    • Discounts and Benefits
    • Bursaries
    • Contact the Courses Team
    • Courses Terms and Conditions
  • Accommodation
    • Bed & Breakfast
    • Eco Hostel
    • Yurts
    • Camping
    • Group Accommodation
    • Gift Cards for Accommodation
    • Things to Do >
      • Site Map
      • Walking and Cycling Breaks
    • Booking Enquiries
    • Accommodation Terms and Conditions
  • Education
    • Our Education Ethos
    • Day Trips >
      • Saxon Experience
    • Residentials >
      • Residential Accommodation
      • Farm Tours
    • Group Bookings >
      • Colleges and Universities
    • Alternative Education >
      • Young Natural Ambassadors
    • Forest School >
      • Wood Mouse Forest School
      • Forest School 6 - 16 Years
      • Forest School Training
    • For Teachers >
      • Fair Share Fund
      • Earth Protectors Conference
    • Contact the Education Team
  • Burial Site
    • South Downs Natural Burial Site
    • Funeral Charges
    • Information Pack
    • Flowers and Planting
    • Attending A Funeral
    • Legacies
    • Donations
  • Our Future
  • Support Us
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Donations
    • Friends >
      • Business Friends >
        • Business Friends
    • Fair Share Fund
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Thank You to Our Supporters
    • Cast Off
    • Give As You Shop
  • Knowledge Hub
    • Sustainability Wheel
    • Ask an Expert
    • Greener Homes >
      • Advice Sheets
    • Projects >
      • Land Management >
        • Beekeepers
        • Chalk Grassland
        • Coppice
        • Forest Gardening
        • Herb Gardens
        • Mini Meadow
        • Nettles & Brambles
        • Permaculture
        • Ponds
      • Building & Structures >
        • Accommodation Eco Retrofit
        • Compost Toilet
        • Low Impact Building
        • Solar Projects
        • Tree Bog
        • Wetherdown Lodge
        • Woodland Hall
        • Yurts
    • Articles >
      • Art & Craft
      • Growing
      • Health
      • Meditation
      • Weaving Willow
      • Young People
  • Donate & Buy
    • Eco Shop
    • Eco T-Shirts
    • Gift Cards
    • Donations
  • Visit Us
    • Find Us
    • Opening Hours
    • Beech Cafe
    • Site Map
    • Talk & Tour
    • Room & Space Hire >
      • Terms and Conditions
    • Contact Us >
      • Join Mailing List
      • Leave Mailing List