“On a hill near a wood where nobody goes, up a track through a gate, the food forest grows.”
This is the opening refrain of Rob Handy’s entertaining YouTube videos, which he’s been making since 2017. In them, we follow Rob as he creates his forest garden, a project he’s been working on for the last 11 years.
Forest gardening has long been known in tropical areas but is only now becoming popular in the UK. In this style of gardening, trees, shrubs and (mainly) perennial plants are grown in a way that mimics the structure of young forest in a sustainable, low-intensity, low-maintenance way.
All the plants are chosen to provide food, medicine, building materials, fuel and even toiletries and clothing. And because it’s all about creating a rich, balanced ecosystem, wildlife can thrive.
‘Nature isn’t neat, and control is detrimental to the system’
I was lucky enough to have a tour of Rob’s forest garden on a warm June day. When he took on the plot, it was essentially an empty field.
He then set himself the challenge of growing 500 different types of edible plant. He’s up to 470 so far, and the result is a diverse habitat of shrubs, trees and vegetables dotted throughout meadows which, when I visited, bobbed with Meadow Brown and Large Skipper butterflies.
The overall effect of the forest garden is not of a meticulously tended plot. “Nature isn’t neat,” Rob says, “and control is detrimental to the system. For example, I don’t weed at all.”
The element that looks most managed is the grass paths, but even the lawn mowers are sustainable. “Three geese equal one sheep in term of grass mowing,” Rob says. “And they lay eggs!”
The garden showcases the ultimate in sustainable living, all created on almost no budget. For example, Rob’s yurt is made of camel hair and the sail from an old boat with old sheets as insulation. The sedum roof is waterproof thanks to a recycled pond liner. And while lighting is sometimes powered by solar panels, Rob is always thinking about how to use less electricity, so he makes candles from beeswax and Bog Myrtle berries.
Rob documents the process of creating his own forest garden while discovering the bounty of nature within his plot and the surrounding countryside. Video: @robsdiscovery
I was keen to know what role wildlife has here. “It is central,” Rob says, “because nature helps with food production and pollination and with helping create a healthy, resilient system.” Since planting the garden, the amount of wildlife has just exploded. Rob tells me: “I now have resident Barn Owls and Tawny Owls, a pair of breeding Kestrels, and there are Grass Snakes, Adders, newts and so much more.”
As you can tell, this isn’t a garden with a sole focus on wildlife – it’s a garden that’s all about living in tune with nature, and of being part of nature. It’s a truly glorious place, both in its simplicity and in its detail.
Rob’s 3 tips for forest gardens
- “I’m not a good gardener – I’m just not afraid of trying. If it works, I just keep doing it! Ultimately, just give it a go; don’t be scared.”
- “Everything starts with the soil. I never dig the ground – I put down cardboard from a local supermarket and cover it with wood chip from tree surgeons or the local council. After about a year, the whole thing turns into a beautiful compost.”
- “Nature knows best! For example, I planted four raspberry plants where I thought they should be. They have long since moved on from there and have put themselves where they want to be. Now I have thousands!”
Rob’s yurt is a sustainable structure. Photo: Adrian Thomas
How to: Make a forest garden
Rob’s garden is a hectare (2.5 acres) in size, but you can follow the ethos of the forest garden in any garden, even very small spaces.
You start by planting a canopy layer, typically of fruit trees such as apples, pears or plums. These can be bought on rootstocks that determine the ultimate size of the tree, so choose ones that won’t outgrow your garden. Plant sparingly – you’re not creating a dark woodland!
Under these, plant a shrub layer, such as blackcurrants, gooseberries and raspberries. Then, for the ground layer, plant herbs and annual vegetables in sunny areas, plus perennial crops such as Wild Strawberries or beneficial plants such as Comfrey for natural fertiliser.
Aim, above all, for a wide diversity of plants rather than a monoculture, and then allow it to evolve. Wildlife diversity will soon follow!
Rob picking food in his forest garden. Photo: Adrian Thomas
Go sustainable!
Rob pushes the boundaries of how to live as sustainably as possible. Could you garden more sustainably, too? Here are some ideas to try:
- Grow plants from seed rather than buying in pots
- Lift slabs or decking to create more areas for growing
- Cut down on fossil fuel use in the garden
- Have a total plastic embargo
- Collect rainwater
- Make compost
- Spend more time in the garden, growing things for you and wildlife to eat – and being part of nature!
Rob picks Blackcurrants in his garden. Photo: Adrian Thomas
What to grow: Blackcurrant
- This is Rob’s ‘go-to’ forest garden plant because it’s good for so many things – smoothies, jam, syrup, wine and, of course, wildlife.
- It’s native to northern Europe and Asia, but not to the UK. However, it’s very happy in our climate.
- The original wild plant has long been cultivated by humans, with varieties bred to have larger berries and heavier crops.
- They grow in any soil, in shade or sun, and hardly need any watering.
- In winter, cut a third of the oldest stems back to the ground to prompt fresh new growth that will bear the fruit next year.
- The inconspicuous flowers are much-visited by a range of pollinators, especially solitary bees and bumblebees.
- Blackbirds and Song Thrushes will help eat any berries that you don’t!
Large Skipper butterfly on Common Knapweed. Photo: Adrian Thomas
Spotlight on Garden butterflies
There are just 57 resident butterfly species in the UK, not including two regular migrants and a small number of occasional visitors.
However, several are specialists of natural habitats, so most gardens can expect 10–15 species – maybe a few more if you live near rich habitats such as downland or woodland.
Typical garden visitors include Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Peacock and Comma, plus the ‘cabbage whites’ – aka Large, Small and Green-veined Whites.
The most recent State of the UK’s Butterflies report in 2022, collated by Butterfly Conservation, found that 80% of butterfly species in the UK have decreased in either abundance, distribution or both since 1976. And in 2024, the oganisation declared a “nature emergency” for butterflies.
As gardeners, we can really help. The adult butterflies only nectar on a few flower species, and the caterpillars are even more picky about the plant leaves they eat. Learn and then grow these plants so you can help boost the butterfly numbers in your area.
Frogs in Bob’s paddling pools.
Your letters: Instant ponds!
I live close to Gloucester city centre, far from any lakes or woodland.
To create ponds in my garden, I added three children’s paddling pools. All are on hardstanding, each one a little higher than the other, with a slightly different plant mix in in each.
I’ve had frogs in them for about 12 years. The oldest was a very large female (Rose); she was eight when she died in 2021.
I’ve attracted six species of dragonfly and damselfly, over 20 species of hoverfly and Dilochopodid flies, which are great to watch as they signal to each other. I also have a cattle drinking butt, in which are Water Slaters (Gammarus).
About mid-April, I watch them form up into regiments and march around the butt until, rather like the Grand Old Duke of York, they end up where they started.
But best of all, my ponds are visited by bats.
Bob Axworthy, Gloucester
Adrian says: It is always inspiring to hear of creative ways that people find to help wildlife in situations that, at first glance, might seem quite unpromising.
Bob’s Dilochopodid flies are a diverse group of flies that tend to be called the long-legged flies. One species to look out for at garden ponds is Poecilobothrus nobilitatus.
If you have a space you have transformed with wildlife in mind please tell us about it at rspbmagazine@rspb.org.uk
