Robert Hart identified seven layers in a temperate forest garden. Positioning depends on the site and plants' needs for light, moisture, shelter, pollination etc. Good design brings these together with the needs of the people using it. Limited by space and shallow substrate, our design aims to illustrate the importance of plants in human history and how they can be used to support more sustainable lifestyles.

Tall trees
The self-fertile cherry, Prunus avium ‘Stella’, is our version of the canopy layer. Despite the shallow substrate this has grown to over 7m even though it has been pruned to reduce wind resistance and the danger of summer storms blowing it over and wreaking havoc over the whole garden – testament to the value of horse manure and ground seaweed.

Small trees & large shrubs

These are planted between the canopy trees and can include coppiced trees such as our cob nut, Corylus 'Webb's Prize', or fruit growing on dwarf rootstock such as the crab apple, Malus silvestris 'John Downie', which makes excellent jelly and is a good pollinator for other apple varieties. In fact, the shallow substrate has a bonsai effect on all our trees.

Smaller shrubs
These are mainly shade tolerant and include chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) and Jostaberry (Ribes x culverwellii) can look great and produce fruit for pies – if you can get to them before the birds.

Herbaceous perennials
There are many useful perennials which can be used as vegetables – asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), French sorrel (Rumex acetosa) – or herbs – lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), bergamot (Monarda didyma). Many are also ornamental and attract beneficial insects which eat pests and pollinate fruit trees.

Ground cover
Creeping plants suppress weeds and conserve moisture and are a key ingredient to reducing maintenance. Wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) are good to eat and disease resistant, while sweet violets (Viola odorata) add a touch of the exotic to salads.

Climbers and vines
These can produce fruit, screen fences, provide shade, insulate walls & look beautiful. The Japanese wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius) is a particular favourite.

Edible roots and tubers
Root crops such as American groundnut (Apios americana) can also be grown in a forest garden, but care must be taken not to disturb tree roots.

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