PROBLEMS SOLVED
Supplement a variety of trees with industrial-style materials to create a robust and secluded gathering space, says Sara Edwards
Choose industrial materials
For garden industrial chic, consider using metals that are either powder coated black or allowed to rust like Corten. Weld mesh comes in sheets or rolls with various size square holes; it makes fantastic trellis on walls or screens to divide spaces and is also used for gabion baskets. Other materials to consider are corrugated iron, concrete, exposed brick and repurposed timber like scaffolding planks or pallets.
Build a corrugated iron planter
Decide on the diameter and height of the planter, then cut sheets of corrugated iron into lengths using a metal nibbler drill attachment and making sure the corrugations run top to bottom. Join the sheets using a simple hand pop rivet gun until you have the required circumference in length. Use greenhouse glass rubber gasket to cover sharp cut edges of metal around the top.
Upcycle where possible
Upcycling scaffold planks and scaffolding to create heavy-duty furniture has been popular for a while. Plans, instructions and component lists to make tables and benches can be found online, or you can buy them ready made. In this design, adding castor wheels to the tables allows the pieces to be re-arranged according to the activity, giving versatility to the space.
Secure your plant pots
This scaffolding storage rack has circular holes cut into the planks to allow plant pots to sit in them, preventing them from getting knocked or blown over. Used here to screen the shed and help define the space, I have repurposed the café’s large tins into pots to grow herbs or use as vases to display cut flowers from the garden. It is important to fix it securely to the ground with concrete foundations.
Include a wildlife pond
Repurpose an IBC tank, like the ones I used for my RHS Chelsea garden in 2021, to make a wildlife pond. Cut the container down to 20–30cm high, add rocks and pebbles inside to make a ‘beach’ and place rocks on the outside to act as a ladder in. Plant with native aquatic plants. Make it child friendly by cable tying a sheet of weld mesh with 75mm squares over the top. Plants will grow through and amphibians can still get in and out.
Create a gabion bug hotel
Fill a metal gabion basket with old roof tiles, air bricks, bamboo canes, logs with holes drilled in the ends, twigs and fir cones to create habitats for insects and other wildlife. Different insects prefer different conditions, so locate it where one side receives warmth from the sun and the other is cool and damp. Add a ‘roof’ of old tiles or plants to help keep it fairly dry.
Q How can I create a woodland community garden space?
This month’s request is a little different.
