The Forest Garden
Ideal for camping, breaths of fresh air and fireside stories.
A Forest Garden is a kind of orchard, planted with many different varieties of fruit and nut trees and bushes. It is designed to mimic a young natural woodland, diverse and multi-layered, and managed without artificial fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides and in a way that restores the structure and micro-biology of the soil, degraded in this case by many years of over grazing.
The message of a Forest Garden is “working with nature is best.” Hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn and oak have joined the Forest Garden of their own accord.
During 2010 the design team, Alastair Mackenzie (Regenerative Design Ltd), Josef Davies-Coates (United Diversity), and Deborah Wolton (the Quadrangle) worked on a plan. Over the winter of 2011/12 the forest garden was planted with apples, pears, plums, damsons, quinces, cherries, cobnuts and a mulberry and lots of fruit bushes and herbs. It is now a productive orchard, a wildlife reserve, an outdoor classroom and a magic camping field.
Deborah is happy to explain the design and the ethos behind it and we often hold ‘permablitz’ days where volunteers can come and get stuck in.
Image credit: Peter Schiazza
The Field
A short animation about our field’s transformation into a Forest Garden.
Narrated by Deborah Wolton, made by Tem and Badj, sound design Jonah Brody
Please contact hello@thequadrangle.co for more info or a press release.
Facilities & Accommodation in the Forest Garden
– A beautifully designed Horsebox Kitchen converted by Pascoe Lintell. Funding provided by DVLPS. Fully equipped with pots, pans, plates, cutlery and glasses – supporting our aim to to help to make camping and the countryside accessible for all.
– The River Hut – a cosy shepherds hut on wheels beside the river with an arm chair, a small woodburner and double bed.
– Large 6m Bell Tent – set up with two double futon beds, which are moveable to set the space up as a workshop and storytelling space.
– Airstream Caravan – two comfortable sofa beds so used as a workshop space and as accommodation.
– Camping circles for more tents, fire pit and two compost toilets.
Funders
The production of The Field animation was supported by the Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme (DVLPS). Led by the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit, the scheme operates between Dartford and Westerham in West Kent. It has received £2.1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund along with other funding securing a total of £4 million towards conserving, enhancing and celebrating the landscape of the Darent Valley.
At the Scheme’s heart is the valley’s historical connection with the artist, Samuel Palmer, who called the valley his ‘earthly paradise’. Through its partnership approach, DVLPS is delivering over 40 integrated cultural and art, access, heritage and biodiversity projects within all communities, towns and villages throughout the scheme area. It works with a host of partners, conservation organisations, local authorities, artists, schools, local interest groups and many more to deliver these projects. The Scheme aims to engage local people and visitors in the stunning landscapes of the Darent Valley, encouraging them to not only enjoy and explore these landscapes but feel a connection to them and a desire to look after them.
