Intro 🌳

# The Backyard Forest

_Introducing the Backyard Forest_

![Small edible forest garden, wooden planks and woodchip paths](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_390,h_219/v1591005392/plank-edging-forest-garden-169.jpg)

##### [The Backyard Forest](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/backyard/) by [Jake Rayson](mailto:hello@natureworks.org.uk)

[natureworks.org.uk/backyard/intro](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/backyard/intro/)

###### **Press `P` to see notes and credits**<br>Work licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), embedded work may have other licenses.

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* Greetings & welcome! 
* My name is Jake Rayson, I am a forest gardener and forest garden designer
* Backyard Forest: a course to transform garden into lush food forest
* Key aspect, working with nature to grow edible crops, whilst creating wildlife haven
* Things to note:
  * This is the first of 8 lectures
  * Focus on cool temperate, UK centric, particularly native plants (check if plant is invasive in your area)
  * Principles of edible ecosystem universally applicable
  * Cool temperate, & UK-centric particularly with native plants
  * Press `p` to see the notes
  * Slides always available online
  * Slideshow license means you can share the slideshow non-commercially

---

## Jake Rayson<br><span class="u-smaller">Nature Works</span>

[![Jake Rayson smiling](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_80,h_80,c_thumb,g_face,r_max/v1572195912/jake-smile.png)](/)

Website: [natureworks.org.uk](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/)  
Email: <hello@natureworks.org.uk>  
Mastodon: [mas.to/@NatureWorks](https://mas.to/@NatureWorks)  
Twitter: [@NatureWorksGdn](https://twitter.com/NatureWorksGdn)    
Facebook: [@NatureWorksGarden](https://facebook.com/NatureWorksGarden)  
YouTube: [Subscribe](https://bit.ly/subscribe-natureworksgarden) to my [channel](https://www.youtube.com/c/NatureWorksGarden)

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* I am Nature Works (Garden) on internet
* Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

## Short bio & motivations!

* Interested in engaging with ecological & climate emergency in 2012
* Bought Martin Crawford's ‘Creating a Forest Garden’
* Moved to West Wales farmhouse in 2015
* Forest garden on 3 acres of hillside

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# What you’ll learn

![Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on pink Red Valerian flower](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420/v1568484800/butterfly-8AED48BC.jpg)

## Transform your backyard<br>into a lush food forest<br>and wildlife haven

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Whole course based on idea that _everyone_ can contribute
* No matter how much space you have
* **You** can create a functioning, edible ecosystem

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# What you’ll learn

![Small Tortoiseshell butterfly on pink Red Valerian flower](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420/v1568484800/butterfly-8AED48BC.jpg)

1. Course overview
2. Backyard Forest definition
3. Characteristics of a forest garden
4. Forest garden guidelines

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Backyard forest, term implies **small forest garden**
* Most people have yards, not acres!
* I use terms interchangeably
* Butterfly is [Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae)](https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=urticae)
* Flower is [Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)](https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Centranthus+ruber)
* Defining characteristics: how to tell if you have a forest garden!
* Guidelines are key things to keep in mind

---

# 1. Overview

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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# Course overview

1. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Introducing</span>](../intro/)
2. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Plan</span>](../plan/) 
3. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Design</span>](../design/)
4. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Protect</span>](../protect/)
5. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Perennial Veg</span>](../veg/)
6. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Canopy</span>](../canopy/) 
7. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Ground Prep</span>](../prep/)
8. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Shrubs & Ground Cover</span>](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* 3 sections
* First 3 lectures are watching & thinking
* Next 3 are "structural" planting
* Last 2 are filling out the structure
* Possible/desirable to pause between each section

---

# Course overview

1. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Introducing</span>](../intro/) 👈
2. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Plan</span>](../plan/) 
3. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Design</span>](../design/)
4. [Protect](../protect/)
5. [Perennial Veg](../veg/)
6. [Canopy](../canopy/) 
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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**Watching & thinking** phase!

This lecture. How meta.

---

# Course overview

1. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Introducing</span>](../intro/)
2. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Plan</span>](../plan/) 👈
3. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Design</span>](../design/)
4. [Protect](../protect/)
5. [Perennial Veg](../veg/)
6. [Canopy](../canopy/) 
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Surveying tips
* Creating a map
* Making a wishlist
* Moving things around (design)
* Schedule

---

# Course overview

1. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Introducing</span>](../intro/)
2. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Plan</span>](../plan/)
3. [<span class="u-bg-yellow">Design</span>](../design/) 👈
4. [Protect](../protect/)
5. [Perennial Veg](../veg/)
6. [Canopy](../canopy/) 
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Purposefully putting things in the right place!

---

# Course overview

1. [Introducing](../intro/)
2. [Plan](../plan/)
3. [Design](../design/)
4. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Protect</span>](../protect/) 👈
5. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Perennial Veg</span>](../veg/)
6. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Canopy</span>](../canopy/) 
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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**Structural** phase

* Windbreaks
* Dead hedges
* Nurse trees
* Paths! Access & presence.
* Polytunnel, greenhouse, potting shed, cold frames, heated propagation bed

---

# Course overview

1. [Introducing](../intro/)
2. [Plan](../plan/)
3. [Design](../design/)
4. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Protect</span>](../protect/)
5. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Perennial Veg</span>](../veg/) 👈
6. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Canopy</span>](../canopy/) 
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Get productive, get a harvest!
* Make veg accessible
* Protect your crops
* Suggestions for perennial veg species

---

# Course overview

1. [Introducing](../intro/)
2. [Plan](../plan/)
3. [Design](../design/)
4. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Protect</span>](../protect/)
5. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Perennial Veg</span>](../veg/)
6. [<span class="u-bg-aqua">Canopy</span>](../canopy/) 👈
7. [Ground Prep](../prep/)
8. [Shrubs & Ground Cover](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Leaving space for your big trees
* Make sure protected
* How to plant and mulch
* Suggestions for species

---

# Course overview

1. [Introducing](../intro/)
2. [Plan](../plan/)
3. [Design](../design/)
4. [Protect](../protect/)
5. [Perennial Veg](../veg/)
6. [Canopy](../canopy/) 
7. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Ground Prep</span>](../prep/) 👈
8. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Shrubs & Ground Cover</span>](../shrubs/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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**Filling out the structure** phase

* Ways to clear the ground
* Importance of timing — possibly do it in stages
* Methods: sheet mulch, cardboard mulch, thick grass mulch, log mulch, thick wood chip mulch, deturf

---

# Course overview

1. [Introducing](../intro/)
2. [Plan](../plan/)
3. [Design](../design/)
4. [Protect](../protect/)
5. [Perennial Veg](../veg/)
6. [Canopy](../canopy/) 
7. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Ground Prep</span>](../prep/)
8. [<span class="u-bg-lime">Shrubs & Ground Cover</span>](../shrubs/) 👈

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Squeezing shrubs & ground cover into 1 lecture!
* Basic propagation techniques
* The planting process (bark mulch & temporary mulch)
* Top species

---

[![Screengrab of forest garden video](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_481/v1574024543/art-national-geographic-video.jpg)](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/video/shorts/1438178883749/)

_“You don’t have to know everything to begin”_

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* But _where_ do you begin?
* Photo still & [Martin Crawford](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk) quote from the short film [A forest garden with 500 edible plants could lead to a sustainable future](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_m_0UPOzuI) by [Thomas Regnault](https://www.thomasregnault.com) on YouTube

---

# Books & websites

* [Martin Crawford](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/): books, courses, plants
* [Thomas Regnault’s short film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_m_0UPOzuI) of Martin’s garden
* [Plants for a Future](http://www.pfaf.org/): massive database of useful plants
* [RHS Plant Finder](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Form) with native filter
* [Orange Pippin](https://www.orangepippin.com/apples): super fruit tree reference
* [A New Garden Ethic](https://newsociety.com/Books/N/A-New-Garden-Ethic) by [Benjamin Vogt](https://www.monarchgard.com/benjamin-vogt.html)

[![Cover Martin Crawford's Creating a Forest Garden book](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_320/v1574090085/working-with-nature.jpg)](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/product/creating-a-forest-garden-2/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb"><span class="u-underline">Overview</span> — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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Here are some suggestions on where to begin!

* Totally recommend buying [Create a Forest Garden](https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/product/creating-a-forest-garden-2/) by Martin Crawford
* Forest gardening encompasses many disciplines, ongoing endeavour by many individuals.

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# 2. Definition

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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# 2. Definition

![Small edible forest garden, wooden planks and woodchip paths](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1591005392/plank-edging-forest-garden-169.jpg)

### “Work with nature<br>  to grow edible crops,<br>  emulate woodland edge using<br>  [perennial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_plant) & [ground cover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundcover) plants”

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* Backyard Forest to emphasise suitability of forest gardening techniques for gardens of all sizes
* Most people have yards, not acres

> Work with nature to grow edible crops, emulate woodland edge using perennial & ground cover plants

## Key points

* Work with nature: sustainable garden, grow natives, create wildlife habitat
* Edible crops: productive
* Woodland edge: easier to maintain natural balance 
* Perennial plants: better for wildlife, less work
* Ground cover plants: permanent living ground cover

---

# Edible ecosystem

![Bumblebee on pinkish flower of sedum (Hylotelephium spectabile)](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1568734751/sedum-185FABF3.jpg)

### “Growing edible crops<br>  in a wildlife garden”

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* **Edible ecosystem**—edible crops in a self-sustaining wildlife garden system
* Put your garden in a more _natural_ state
* Central role of nature

Forest garden also known as:

* Food forest
* Edible landscape
* Also look out for edimentals, portmanteau edible+ornamental

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# Why a Backyard Forest?

![Warming stripes for Wales](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1590831692/warming-stripes-wales.png)

1. ### Climate Emergency
2. ### Ecological Emergency

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* What we have now isn’t working 😞
* Need to show alternatives
* “Once you can grow your own food, you can do anything” — liberating
* Life as the measure
* [showyourstripes.info](https://showyourstripes.info) — with matching badge!

---

# 1. Climate Emergency

![kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on Tuesday, Dec. 31 2019](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_770,h_433/v1583919925/australia-fire-kangaroo.jpg)

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* [1.5°C rise by 2026](https://climatenewsnetwork.net/warming-exceed-1-5c-limit-2026/), 6-7°C by 2100
* Photo by Matthew Abbott/The New York Times, labelled for reuse

---

# 2. Ecological Emergency

![Cover of State of Nature UK report](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_770,h_433/v1573413146/state-of-nature-report-2019.jpg)

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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* BBC [Nature crisis: Humans 'threaten 1m species with extinction'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48169783) 6 May 2019
* [15% species under threat of extinction in UK](https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/publications/state-of-nature-2019-summary-report-uk.pdf)

---

# What can I do?

![Photo of young forest garden](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_390,h_219/v1589616717/comfrey-904711.jpg)

1. Stop flying
2. Plant-based diet
3. Activism

Forest gardening is activism.

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — <span class="u-underline">Definition</span> — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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## Plenty other reasons

* Low maintenance, for when you get older
* Also planting for future generations
* Positive activism
* Health, both physical & mental
* More habitat for wildlife
* Sequester carbon
* More resilient

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# 3. Characteristics

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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# “Nature abhors a garden”

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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# 3. Characteristics

![Illustration of climax vegetations & position of forest garden by wild wood](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_784/v1575064970/climax-vegetation.png)

1. Sustainable 
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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* Illustration of forest garden in “climax vegetation”
* The further right you go, the more energy, less diversity, more fragility
* Illustration from Martin Crawford’s Creating a Forest Garden

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# 3. Characteristics

![Comfrey leaves chopped around base of fruit tree](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1544220176/comfrey-mulch-41974058974.jpg)

1. Sustainable 👈
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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* Mineral accumulators & nitrogen fixers
* Wildlife predators for pests
* Permanent “living mulch” ground cover
* Trees, perennials & soil biota sequester carbon.
* Biodiversity encouraged
* Native plants **where possible**
* Low maintenance!

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# 3. Characteristics

![Red round strawberry-like fruit on Cornus kousa tree](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1543873414/cornus-kousa-fruit-39541199411.jpg)

1. Sustainable
2. Productive 👈
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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* Fruit, nuts, leaves, shoots, roots…
* Herbs, wood, canes, dyes etc
* Multi-layered, using all available space efficiently

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# 3. Characteristics

![Toad crawling away on a logpile](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1565379356/toad-D729A6B0.jpg)

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly 👈
4. Layers
5. Perennial

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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* Native plants, as co-evolved
* [Wildlife features](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/wildlife-features/)
* Create ecosystem, create pest control & nutrients

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# 3. Characteristics

![Lots of trees and shrubs](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420/v1579988540/toona-sinensis-new-zealand-flax-169-41164041491.jpg)

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers 👈
5. Perennial

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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[Forest garden layers](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/layers/)

1. Canopy
2. Small trees
3. Shrubs
4. Herbaceous perennials
5. Ground cover
6. Climbers 
7. Rhizosphere

![Forest Garden Wales logo](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_50/v1592425148/fgw-logo-transparent.png)

* Layers are really efficient, in a lazy way!
* My logo is 3 basic layers: canopy, shrubs, herbaceous perennials

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# 3. Characteristics

![Silvery grey pointy leaves of Cardoon](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1588966048/cardoon-leaves-996060.jpg)

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial 👈

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — <span class="u-underline">Characteristics</span> — Guidelines</h6>

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Perennial, mostly, plus easy annuals 🙂

* Lower maintenance
* Less soil disturbance
* More efficient
* More nutritious

Some annuals, veg like courgettes & squash, and some that self-seed, eg [Marigold](https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Calendula+officinalis) and [Nasturtium](https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Tropaeolum+majus)

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# 4. Guidelines

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* Guidelines to bear in mind when designing & creating your Backyard Forest
* Things that have really helped me
* Here for reference, I will revisit them later on in the course

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — <span class="u-underline">Guidelines</span></h6>

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# 4. Guidelines

![Windbreak of small yellow plants](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_241/v1544006420/cornus-stolonifera-flaviramea-K8xbDnRk.jpg)

1. [Protect](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/protection/) 👈
2. [Spacing](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/spacing/)
3. [Ground cover](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/ground-cover/)
4. [Nutrients](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/nutrients/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — <span class="u-underline">Guidelines</span></h6>

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* Protect from elements & predators
* Wind
  * [Windbreak hedge](/windbreak/)
  * [Nurse tree](/nurse-tree/)
  * [Dead hedge](/dead-hedge/)
* Wind & cold
  * Greenhouse
  * Polytunnel
  * Cold frames
  * Potting shed
  * Heated propagation bed

Also protect some young plants from direct sun.

---

# 4. Guidelines

![Plan of tree diameters](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_241/v1573738171/tree-spacing-169.png)

1. [Protect](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/protection/)
2. [Spacing](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/spacing/) 👈
3. [Ground cover](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/ground-cover/)
4. [Nutrients](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/nutrients/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — <span class="u-underline">Guidelines</span></h6>

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* Forest garden emulates woodland edge
* Need to make sure enough light gets to understorey
* **Plant for final size**!
* Check [PFAF](https://pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx) & [RHS](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Form) for sizes
* More work to move than to plan!
* For cultivated fruit trees, choose right [rootstock](/rootstock/)
* Formula: ¼ to ½ average canopy diameters

Illustration based on Martin Crawford’s Creating a Forest Garden

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# 4. Guidelines

![Ground covered by green plant with blue flowers](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_241/v1544109909/alefoot-40762351925.jpg)

1. [Protect](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/protection/)
2. [Spacing](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/spacing/)
4. [Ground cover](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/ground-cover/) 👈
5. [Nutrients](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/nutrients/)

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — <span class="u-underline">Guidelines</span></h6>

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* **Always** keep the ground covered
* Annuals, use a mulch. Forest garden, use ground cover plants
* When establishing, use bark or wood chip, plus temporary ground cover
* Wood chip mulch [does not rob nitrogen](https://puyallup.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf) (PDF)!
* I prefer bark but wood chip more available
* Best temporary ground cover in West Wales, [White Mustard](https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Sinapis+alba)—buy bulk

---

# 4. Guidelines

![Dangly purple flowers of comfrey, daft white dog in background](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_241/v1543959826/comfrey-flower-29851000577.jpg)

1. [Protect](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/protection/)
2. [Spacing](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/spacing/)
4. [Ground cover](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/ground-cover/)
5. [Nutrients](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/nutrients/) 👈

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — <span class="u-underline">Guidelines</span></h6>

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* Calculate **[nutrient budget](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/nutrients/)**, Creating a Forest Garden Ch.6
* Have soil test for nutrients & pH, local farmers co-op
* Make sure to have enough “system plants” providing nutrients
* NPK — Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
* Nitrogen: alder, pea family, Sea Buckthorn, Autumn Olive
* Potassium: [comfrey](/comfrey/)
* Phosphorous: not really provided by plants
* ['Bocking 14'](https://www.organiccatalogue.com/products/comfrey-bocking-14-plants_mh6390), sterile, bred for nutrients
* [Dwarf Comfrey](https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/75444/Symphytum-ibericum/Details), good thick ground cover

---

# Backyard Forest takeaways

![Painted Lady butterfly on pink Red Valerian flower](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420/v1568484800/butterfly-8AED48BC.jpg)

* Edible ecosystem
* Sustainable
* Take your time

<h6 class="breadcrumb">Overview — Definition — Characteristics — Guidelines</h6>

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# The End

![Small edible forest garden, wooden planks and woodchip paths](https://res.cloudinary.com/growdigital/image/upload/w_420,h_236/v1591005392/plank-edging-forest-garden-169.jpg)

<hello@natureworks.org.uk>

[natureworks.org.uk/newsletter](https://www.natureworks.org.uk/newsletter)

Music: _[Chegsticks](https://iamthemightyjungulator.bandcamp.com/track/chegsticks-3) by [I Am The Mighty Jungulator](https://iamthemightyjungulator.bandcamp.com)_