COLUMNIST: Kelly Ireland
One of my favourite Beth Chatto quotes, “A problem is an opportunity”, fits nicely into the Permaculture Design Principle that the problem is the solution, which is a different way of saying that the thing that is causing an issue can in fact be the key to resolving it - you just need to find a different way of looking at it.
So far, I have focussed on working on the areas that are easier - the flatter, better draining areas - but now I have to put on my big girl overalls and focus on a really ugly part of the garden. I give you… the bog.
Since the house build, there has been an area which does not drain. Ever. Here is where some trees have come to die. I don’t know what they are, as they are just sad dead sticks in the ground.
Last spring, we had record rainfall, and with record rainfall it became obvious that this was always going to be a tricky area to work with. This spring, I am going to attempt to make this eyesore into something beautiful.
Permaculture is a great design tool for life, but it works especially well in garden design. The three main ethics are:
Earth Care - making sure you are thinking about the environmental impact of your actions.
People Care - how will the space work for humans.
Fair Share - do not take more than you need, and share the surplus with others, human or otherwise.
By keeping this in mind as you design a space, you will create a sustainable, and hopefully beautiful, design that can be enjoyed by both people and nature.
This was my process.
My first job was to do nothing. This is hard for me as someone who just wants to get stuck in but I followed the advice of others and just observed what was going on in this space. I created a sit spot where I could really observe the comings and goings of the space.
This is how I learnt that it really is a bog all year round where creeping buttercup and deep rooted docks thrive. The ground squelches under foot and sometimes will make rude, fart-like sounds. Whilst this would no doubt entertain the teenagers in the house, it wasn’t a feature I loved.
Next step was to do a rough sketch of the area and think about how I would like the end result to look. What is the purpose of this space? Where is the prevailing wind coming from? Is it a frost pocket? Do I want a space to sit, would a stumpery fit in? What do I already have to hand that could go in this space? I made lists and drew pictures (badly). I wrote down anything that would help me get a clearer picture on what I imagined the space to look like.
I researched which plants like wet, heavy clay soil. The list is actually much larger than I imagined, so I spent a few hours whittling it down to what I really liked and could afford.
To my surprise, Hydrangea cropped up quite often. I love them, so they are added to my shopping list. Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) is another one that features often with the added bonus being its nectar production - Flag Iris came in as the second highest nectar producer (per day) in the AgriLand survey - I want to attract all the pollinators I can.
Finally, I am going to move green dogwoods (Cornus sanguinea) and comfrey (Symphytum) from existing areas in the garden. A note on comfrey: try and source ‘Bocking 14’ as this is non-invasive. A lot of sources will tell you that comfrey will only grow on well drained soil - I am able to tell you that it will grow just fine in damp conditions.
This will be the start. By keeping the planting simple and using what I already have, I am hoping to save some money that can be put towards the more ambitious pond creation. I have been reading up about Betonite clay as a possible pond liner, but my neighbour had a pond that is quite literally just clay sealed by puddling (stamping it down until it is compacted).
The pond will hold most but not all the water. During heavy rainfall, it will likely overflow so I will probably have to put in a couple of swales on the slope as well. Swales are great for slowing water down and giving it the chance to sink into the ground instead of run along the surface. A couple of years ago, I was introduced to contour swales, which are created using a simple home-made A-Frame pendulum. It was a lot of fun, and I am keen to have a go at making one and using it to mark out the much needed swales. The more I can contain and slow the run off, the better.
I have made my lists, drawn my sketches, and spent considerable time paddling about the space in my wellies. Now, I need to get on with it.
I will start by marking out the pond and swales, and then get on with the hard labour of hand digging out the area.
Once this is done, then the fun bit begins and the plants can start to be put in.
I am excited to see what this little space will look like this time next year. Hopefully, it will be something that would get the Beth Chatto seal of approval, at the very least for taking a problem and making it an opportunity.
Kelly Ireland is a keen gardener living with her partner on an off-grid smallholding in the North East of Scotland. After ten years, the house is finished and it is now time to concentrate on the garden. Kelly completed her Permaculture Design Certificate in 2022 and is using this to develop the new gardens around their home.
Keep up with her garden on Instagram at @growingseasons_.