Planet Good Earth

A granite skate ramp forms the heart of the garden creating an area for skateboarding and other wheeled sports, as well as communal space for get-togethers and workshops, supporting physical activity, positive relationships in a natural and engaging setting.

The planting combines native and exotic species, with culinary and medicinal herbs. Apple, plum and mulberry trees provide shelter and serve as educational tools for grafting techniques. The shrub and herb layers encompass a variety of fruits (including golden raspberries, honeyberries and alpine strawberries), edible flowers (including borage, calendula, viola) and foliage (including red vein sorrel, pineapple mint, ginger and wild garlic), encouraging awareness of and learning about safe foraging and self-seeding processes.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for? 
Users of an urban skatepark.
Where is the garden set?  
Wales.
Who or what is the design inspiration?
Forest gardens, polyculture and the joy of growing, learning and play.

The garden also includes vertical hydroponic grow towers that efficiently recycle water, alongside mushroom logs that offer visitors insights into fungi-culture, creating an interactive educational experience.

Key sustainability points

• Peat free compost is used in the garden.
• Timber for boundary treatment will be FSC standard untreated UK larch.
• All plants except for trees will be sourced from UK.

Relocation

After the show, the garden will be relocated to Hay Castle Trust in Hay-on-Wye's vibrant, inclusive community. It will be supported by Black Mountains College, a new and imaginative education centre with a mission to promote ecological action and adaptation. The garden will form the core of a new community-focused educational space that will create fun and flexible healthy learning spaces for young people. The informal play spaces and sensory garden will be open outside school hours, becoming a place where the whole neighbourhood comes together.