Urban Forest Gardens

Course overview

Explore how forest garden principles can transform urban spaces into
productive, layered and biodiverse landscapes.

Can we grow food in the way a natural woodland grows?

This one-day course explores the principles of forest gardening and considers
how they can be adapted for urban gardens, community spaces and smaller city
landscapes. 

We will examine how the different layers interact, how plants can be selected
for multiple functions and how forest garden principles can be adapted to suit
the constraints of urban environments.

Modules

You will explore:

• The principles and history of forest gardening
• The different layers of a forest garden
• Productive trees and shrubs
• Herbaceous, groundcover and climbing plants
• Companion planting and plant relationships
• Designing for food, habitat and biodiversity
• Soil health and nutrient cycling
• Designing a small-scale urban forest garden