Diploma Portfolio : 05 Front Yard Design

Summary

Making a North Facing Yard in Leeds productive (2017)

Aim: This design aimed to increase the productivity of a small north facing yard of a back-to-back house. Its yields were for the inhabitants (edible crops) and the local wildlife (birds, insects etc)
Framework: OBREDIMET and SADIMET
Tools: Base maps, Overlays, Zones, Sector anaysis, Client interview.
Principles: Holmgren
Key successes: Generous yield of herbs, salad, fruit (enough to share with neighbours). Growing in the gravel seemed to reduce the intrusion of the local cats. A small pond provided water for the birds. Increased contact with neighbours.
Key challenges and how they were overcome: Physically building some of the structures – overcome by help from friends.
Evaluation: A successful outcome. Bumper crops of herbs and salad/greens. More birds observed.
Reflection: Drawing the layout on powerpoint made it really easy to move elements around and with the copy and paste function, meant the planning for its implementation was really easy.