What you’ll learn

1. Backyard Forest definition
2. Reasons to plan
3. Make plan checklist
4. Measurement techniques
5. How to create a map

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

1. Definition

“Work with nature
  to grow edible crops,
  emulate woodland edge using
  perennial & ground cover plants”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Edible ecosystem

“Growing edible crops
  in a wildlife garden”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Why a Backyard Forest?

1. Ecological Emergency

2. Climate Emergency

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Characteristics

1. Sustainable 👈
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Characteristics

1. Sustainable
2. Productive 👈
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Characteristics

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly 👈
4. Layers
5. Perennial

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Characteristics

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers 👈
5. Perennial

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Characteristics

1. Sustainable
2. Productive
3. Wildlife friendly
4. Layers
5. Perennial 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

2. Plan

1. Document what’s there 👈
2. Be clear what you want
3. Map the land
4. Distil series of actions

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

2. Plan

1. Document what’s there
2. Be clear what you want 👈
3. Map the land
4. Distil series of actions

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

2. Plan

1. Document what’s there
2. Be clear what you want
3. Map the land 👈
4. Distil series of actions

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

2. Plan

1. Document what’s there
2. Be clear what you want
3. Map the land
4. Distil series of actions 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

What is design?

“Purposefully putting things
  in the right place”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

What is design?

Make the big mistakes early!

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

What is design?

“Working with nature means
  designing for nature”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Communicate plan

“A plan communicates to others,
 including your future self”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3. Checklist

Download checklist PDF
bit.ly/forest-garden-checklist

1. Survey
2. Features
3. Plants
4. Pictures

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position
• Elements
• Features
• Situation
• You

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position 👈
• Elements
• Features
• Situation
• You

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position
• Elements 👈
• Features
• Situation
• You

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position
• Elements
• Features 👈
• Situation
• You

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position
• Elements
• Features
• Situation 👈
• You

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.1 Survey

• Position
• Elements
• Features
• Situation
• You 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.2 Features

• Wildlife features, eg pond
• Water conservation
• Nutrient budget
• Polytunnel/greenhouse
• Annual veg beds…

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.3 Plants

• Wishlist plants, all of ’em
• Plants For A Future
• RHS Plant Finder with UK native filter
• Think native flowers, US & UK

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

3.4 Pictures

Pictures, collect them all

• Inspiration, motivation, aspiration
• Stick them on your wall
• Upload them to Pinterest

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

4. Map

“The map is not the territory”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

4. Map

• Mark important features
• Try tree positions
• Paper, online or CAD

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Paper map

Work out your scale!

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Paper map

• 1:50 means 1m = 2cm
• Average UK garden 16m x 5m
• At 1:50 scale, 16m x 5m → 32cm x 10cm

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map

1. Satellite screenshot
2. Metres per pixel
3. Scale in QCAD

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 1. Satellite screenshot

• Highest resolution possible
• Be sure to include scale, in metres
• Save as good quality JPEG

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 2. Metres per pixel

1. Measure pixel length of metres scale
2. Metres per pixel  5m ÷ 106px = 0.047169811
3. Image scale factor = metres per pixel

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All 👈
2. View → Property Editor
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All 👈
2. View → Property Editor
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All
2. View → Property Editor 👈
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All
2. View → Property Editor 👈
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All
2. View → Property Editor
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor 👈

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All
2. View → Property Editor
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor 👈

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

CAD map: 3. Scale in QCAD

1. File → Import , Select → Select All
2. View → Property Editor
3. Width & Height Factor: image scale factor 👈

Our image
scale factor is
metres per pixel
0.047169811

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line 👈
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line 👈
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension 👈
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation 👈
4. Offsets

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

5. Measure

1. Direct line
2. Running dimension
3. Triangulation
4. Offsets 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

6. Design

“Add observations to the map,
  put wishlist things in the right place,
  then distil series of actions”

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

6. Design

• Zoning 👈
• Right plant, right place
• Tree spacing
• Protect

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

6. Design

• Zoning
• Right plant, right place 👈
• Tree spacing
• Protect

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

6. Design

• Zoning
• Right plant, right place
• Tree spacing 👈
• Protect

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

6. Design

• Zoning
• Right plant, right place
• Tree spacing
• Protect 👈

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Useful tools

• 2-3m bamboo
• String & bamboo
• Measuring tape

Remember, “measure twice, plant once”!

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design

Mini-course takeaways

• Write it all down
• Make the big mistakes early
• Take your time

Download checklist PDF

Definition — Plan — Checklist — Map — Measure — Design