Overview
This project transforms the neglected garden of the house I grew up in into a productive, low-maintenance urban forest garden. After moving out in 1989, the property was let to tenants who never maintained the garden. For over twenty years the only "management" was a contractor visiting a few times a year to cut everything back to bare soil.
When I finally gained access in Autumn 2011, I had the opportunity to redesign the space properly. The analysis of the adjacent permaculture garden (next door) had already identified this garden as a zone 3–4 space — somewhere not visited daily. A forest garden, which sustains itself once established, was the obvious and fitting solution.
Methodology
Because a forest garden design is inherently simpler than a full permaculture design — the layered structure itself provides the framework — I chose the lighter CEAP methodology rather than the more elaborate SADIM or OBREDIM. The simplicity of CEAP matched the nature of the task well.
Working Through the Design
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1
Collect — Site Survey & Information Gathering
A thorough survey was conducted using mind maps (Xmind) to systematically look at the site from multiple angles: geology, soil, history, sun/shade, wind, and existing plants.
Site History
Goodmayes was largely arable land until urbanisation between 1898–1910, coinciding with the opening of Goodmayes Railway Station in 1901. Remarkably, historical maps show that Talbot Gardens remained as orchards and tree nurseries as late as 1944 — three of the last streets to be built over. This orchard history is a positive indicator for tree growing on the site.
1803 — Arable land 
1944 — Still an orchard & nursery 
2010 — Built up suburbia Geology & Soil
Using the iGeology app, I identified the bedrock as London Clay Formation (clay, silt and sand), with 6–10 metres of superficial Hackney Gravel (sand and gravel) above it. Soil samples showed a sandy-silty loam with naturally high groundwater and a pH of 6.5–6.7 — well-suited to a wide range of fruiting trees and shrubs.
Bedrock: London Clay 
Superficial: Hackney Gravel 
Soil analysis results Base Maps & Microclimates
I used Google Sketchup to produce accurate base maps and to model wind and frost patterns. The forest garden sits immediately adjacent to the permaculture garden, and two mature trees — a 60-year-old apple at the back and a pear near the shed — were already present, along with an elder overhanging from a neighbour.
Both gardens — context map 
Forest garden basemap 
Wind statistics overlay 
Frost pocket analysis Sun & Shade Analysis
Sketchup sun/shade models were generated at the equinoxes and solstices (8am, midday, 4pm, 8pm) to understand light availability across the seasons.
Base position 
Sun/shade model 
Annual sun/shade animation 
Full survey mind map (Xmind) — click to enlarge -
2
Evaluate — Making Sense of the Data
With site information gathered, I moved to evaluation: identifying what the data means for plant selection, layout, and management.
A PASTE analysis (Plants, Animals, Structures, Tools, Events) was conducted for existing conditions, which was then compared against what was desired. The high groundwater, orchard heritage and good soil pH all pointed strongly toward a productive forest garden being viable with minimal soil amendment.
PASTE analysis of existing conditions 
Full evaluation mind map — click to enlarge 🌿 Permaculture PrincipleThe existing apple and pear trees — estimated at 60 years old — are not obstacles to work around but gifts to design from. Keeping and working with what is already thriving is core to permaculture: use and value diversity and use edges and value the marginal. -
3
Apply — Design Development
With the evaluated data in hand, I applied Rak's Forest Garden Design Methodology — a step-by-step approach for layering a forest garden from canopy down to ground cover and root layer — along with the permaculture principles.
Applying Rak's Forest Garden Design Methodology 
Permaculture principles applied to the design 
Summary of all elements chosen for the design 
Final design plan Plant List
Full plant list for the forest garden -
4
Plan & Implement
The implementation plan was created, then followed as closely as practical. In practice, some adaptation was needed as materials and timing evolved.
Implementation plan mind map 
What actually happened during implementation 
Early implementation 
Planting in progress 
Garden developing 
Layers establishing 
Garden view 
Garden maturing
Reflections & Outcomes
Turning a long-neglected strip of ground into a productive forest garden demonstrates a core permaculture principle: working with nature rather than against it. The site's orchard history, combined with good soil and two mature fruit trees already present, made the forest garden approach not only logical but almost inevitable.
The CEAP methodology proved well-matched to the project — simple enough not to over-engineer a design that was essentially about selecting the right plants and laying the groundwork for a self-sustaining system.