The woods : There is also about half an acre of land that is planted with pines, that we are slowly moving back to a broad leaf woodland. The pines, planted about 25 years ago or so keep breaking off each winter in a storm and the are not really ideal for the spot. Hence elder, beech holly and ash has all been added from local sources to slowly replace the pine trees when they fall. It makes a fine habitat and nice place to doze in a hammock on a fine day. Philbert created a tai chi lawn with a view to die for, a few years back and as long as we stay on top of the rhodedendrons and btrambles that keep creeping back then it remains a breathtaking spot.

I pla to enlarge this section to look at forest gardens as well and our attempt here. I have put some great books on the subject in the bookstore at the foot of this page. Also I have been working on a great little forest garden project in Reading and therre are loads of pictures on the RISC site

Related books and sources of information,

Patrick Whitefields great book on Forest gardening, it was the first one of its kind written for our temperate climate Ben is an inspiratinal forester and i really reccommend his work
Robert Hart of course is attributed to have invented the Forest Garden and pionnered it in his garden in Wenlock Edge Graham Bell is a stalwart of Permaculture in the UK and has loads to say about it, well worth a read
More from Robert - Robert died a few years ago, but he has left an amazing legacy Mollison and Holgrew's designers manual is still the definitive text - teh Permacyuultiure bible, although its mainly about australia the principles are the same
Housing Co-ops, read all about it! Holmgren is a very sensible and level headed writer where Mollison is much more wacky.
Jon Hands on housing co-ops hc Earth user's guide - I like the lok of this one, not read it yet
Housing co-op's in britain We have known Simon for years via Redfield community and PErmaculture association here is his pc plot - actually I dont think Chickenshak are in it, I must talk to him!


steve@chickenshack.co.uk