Notes of FOREST GARDEN MEETING  7TH APRIL 2011     8 Oakford Rd, NW5
Present: Josef, Alastair, Deborah

Deborah's comments about list of canopy species:

Chesnut? - prefer acid? 
Medlar? - not sold on them - got one and isn't too keen on the flavour
Hawthorns - maybe graft interesting varieties onto existing plants?
Black Locust - falsa acacia. D really doesn't like them. Suckers, really spiky. Would cut them out.
Eucalyptus - not anamoured, greedy, take nutrion and water out of soil, tend to grow tall and fall over

General brief for Quadrangle Forest Garden:
To put former pasture field to productive use using permaculture principles
To create a place of beauty
To encourage and enhance wildlife habitats
To include campsite – approx 20 tent pitches
To include space for parking of approx 20 cars
To involve ‘partners in practice’ in planting, managing and harvesting produce
To be developed as a model forest garden and used as a teaching/learning resource

Additional requirements:
Space for a large tent or yurt
Place for bonfires
Compost
Compost toilets
Access to water 
Rainwater harvesting
Toolstore
Propagation area

More info here:
http://files.uniteddiversity.com/United_Diversity/Quadrangle_Forest_Garden/The_Brief.txt

Site conditions:
Flat pasture field
Open aspect
Mature trees to NE border
River Darent along western edge
Laid Hawthorn hedge with pollarded field maples along SW boundary (over head power lines)
Track along SE boundary
Fenced with split chestnut post and rail
Wind funnels up valley from S and SW
Frost pocket
Soil – alluvial silt with flints.
Soil pH 7.7 to 8.00
High pressure gas main across field at depth of 0.8 m

See also:
http://files.uniteddiversity.com/United_Diversity/Quadrangle_Forest_Garden/Site_Conditions.txt

To do by April 21st:

ALL
* Finalise Guild Designs

A & J
* think about dates for:
	* ordering trees
	* getting trees delivered
	* course dates
Josef
* Send the link to Holly info
* Ask lists about how best to prepare/ improve pasture before planting out
* ASk lists about how long to sheet mulch
* Make species spreadsheet
	Things to include on species spreadsheet (see p279 Edible Forest Garden Vol 2):
	* nitrogen demand/ production
	* book page number for reference
* Finish and share The Brief
* Can I do Monday May 16th for meeting?
* Ask Rich where we get the fungi goo

Deborah:
* Ask Richard about meeting to present plans w/b July 4th or w/b July 11th

Dates:
* July 14th - FG meeting @ Quad. Staking! :-D

Next meetings: 
April 21st at the Quadrangle.
By this date each of us have planting plans for canopy layer for 3 guilds – aim for draft plan by end of April
Cut out circles of tree canopy size so that we can move them around on plan
Check how we can introduce mycorrhizal fungi (Josef)
16th May – meeting at Oakford Road
Finalize draft plan
Think about applying for funding
25th June – visit to Martin Crawford’s garden
Meet up with Richard Flenley (Trustee) during July (weeks beginning 4th or 11th?)
Stake out positions of canopy trees in the field – July/August
Mulch areas for shrub planting
August order trees
November/December 2011 plant canopy
Feb/March 2012 plant shrubs