Inspired by the designer’s passion for wildlife, Urban Planters: A Pocket for Amphibians focuses on protecting amphibian life cycles. It responds to the dramatic loss of freshwater ponds across the UK and offers take-home ideas for habitat creation, food sources, breeding areas and hibernation spots.

The central feature is a wildlife pond, where Iris laevigata provides shelter from predators and safe routes between water and land. Adjacent to it, a bog garden is filled with moisture-loving plants. Surrounded by a mini wildflower meadow, a Crataegus monogyna tree attracts insects and invertebrates that amphibians feed on and supports hibernating newts through its root system.

The garden combines native and non-native pollinator-friendly species, including swaying grasses and wildflowers in soft pastel colours, creating a calm atmosphere that reflects the peaceful restoration of nature.

Key plants:

• Crataegus monogyna – a UK native tree which supports hundreds of insects and invetebrates, a food source for amphibians. The root sytem also provides hibernation opportunities for newts
• Achillea millefolium – chosen for being UK native and being an RHS Plants for Pollinators plant. It self seeds and spreads, looks beautiful mixed in with perennials and grasses and is great for attracting insects and therefore food for amphibians
• Myosotis scorpioides – broad leaved marginal plant that has been chosen for newts to wrap their eggs in
• Iris laevigata – chosen along with other iris’s as they help to filter and clean the pond water, their dense root system and foliage provide shelter from predators. The long sword like leaves help to create safe exit roots from pond to land for amphibians
• Deschampsia cespitosa – along with other grasses and ferns it has been choosen as grasses create a “tussocky” structure that offers shade and keeps the ground damp, which protects the permeable skin of frogs, toads and newts from desiccation during the day

Plants supplied by: Greenwood Plants

Charlotte is a garden designer driven by a strong connection to nature and a passion for creating sustainable landscapes. With a BA (Hons) in Art History and five years experience as a landscaper, she brings both strong design insight and practical expertise to her work. After completing a Garden Design Diploma, she spent several years designing bespoke residential gardens with a focus on biodiversity before joining Urban Planters in 2023. Her work is guided by a commitment to ecological responsibility, intricate planting design and creating spaces that enhance both wellbeing and the environment.

To be confirmed