Redesign Urban Spaces

I look at these pictures, and delight in the knowledge that I am doing what I love. Afflicted by Covid in March, I was unable to work for three weeks. Then lockdown followed. Only recently have I been able to revisit these walls again.

To expand my knowledge of permaculture and botanics, I immersed myself during the first lockdown in some fascinating courses. Permaculture is a holistic design science based on the

observation of nature, creating sustainable and efficient systems of benefit to both people and

the environment.

Being guided by inspirational teachers such as João Rockett, Tatiana Cavaçana (of Escola

Rama Permacultura) and Anderson Santos (of Escola de Botanica) I returned – virtually - to Brazil! 

Those intensive weeks of study helped concentrate my mind on how permaculture might

relate to cities. How can we redesign our urban spaces? Could we grow food in our front

gardens? And, when it comes to living walls, could we not grow herbs, leaves and vegetables

alongside flowers and ferns? The system I use is ideal for such designs.

Living walls benefit cities. They improve air quality, protect insects and wildlife, are space

efficient, and can cut your food bills! You can also use a substrate rich in minerals that limits

plants’ water consumption to a few minutes a day. 

Look carefully at your own space. You may find an empty area that can be transformed into a

decorative or an ‘agricultural’ wall, or a mixture of the two - a piece of living art.

If you’re keen to learn more about these vertical wonders, I am currently planning a DIY

living wall/vertical garden masterclass online. If you’re interested, please do send me an email.

Or, if you’d like a vertical garden up and running before winter, join me at one of my one-

day online workshops at Walworth Garden. I hope to meet you soon.