Meet the Designers Championing Sustainable ‘Brownfield’ Gardens
The ecological benefits of planting in crushed building waste could be seismic, according to a new gardening movement
It’s affordable, it supports a broad range of wildlife way beyond bees and butterflies, you won’t need to weed or water it – and it tackles the vast issue of what to do with construction waste. Brownfield, or rubble, gardening, is the future, say award-winning landscapers and gardeners Jon Davies and Steve Williams of Wild City Studio, who won a silver medal at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
And they’re not alone. There’s a whole movement – albeit a hotly debated one in some horticultural circles – that’s behind this new approach to greening up our outdoor spaces. Brownfield gardening – essentially, planting on waste materials, often building rubble – is all about making use of materials that are already on site, crushing them and growing resilient plants in the resulting aggregate. “It creates a really dynamic, very affordable and low-maintenance system that looks great and has lots of opportunity for layers of habitat to thrive within the substrate,” Jon says.
Here, Jon and Steve explain the approach in more detail and give advice on how we can implement this naturalistic approach – and make it look beautiful – in our own gardens.
More in this series: How These Interior Designers are Transforming Their Industry
And they’re not alone. There’s a whole movement – albeit a hotly debated one in some horticultural circles – that’s behind this new approach to greening up our outdoor spaces. Brownfield gardening – essentially, planting on waste materials, often building rubble – is all about making use of materials that are already on site, crushing them and growing resilient plants in the resulting aggregate. “It creates a really dynamic, very affordable and low-maintenance system that looks great and has lots of opportunity for layers of habitat to thrive within the substrate,” Jon says.
Here, Jon and Steve explain the approach in more detail and give advice on how we can implement this naturalistic approach – and make it look beautiful – in our own gardens.
More in this series: How These Interior Designers are Transforming Their Industry
The garden showcased an array of resilient planting: wildflowers, hardy shrubs, grasses and plants typically thought of as weeds, all grown in crushed site waste.
Salvaged concrete pieces made up walkways and seating and, with the therapeutic benefits of spending time in natural surroundings in mind, the whole garden has now been relocated to Tottenham in north London.
In its new location, it will become a pocket park in an area known for its anti-social behaviour. “We want this project to be a poster child for what’s possible for our urban futures,” the pair have said.
Find garden designers on Houzz.
Salvaged concrete pieces made up walkways and seating and, with the therapeutic benefits of spending time in natural surroundings in mind, the whole garden has now been relocated to Tottenham in north London.
In its new location, it will become a pocket park in an area known for its anti-social behaviour. “We want this project to be a poster child for what’s possible for our urban futures,” the pair have said.
Find garden designers on Houzz.
What’s the back story?
Jon and Steve joined forces after meeting in 2017 at the Hampton Court Flower Show, where Jon won Best Garden for a Changing World and a gold medal for London Glades, and Steve was helping to install another show garden. “We instantly clicked,” Steve recalls, “and have been on this journey ever since.”
A big lightbulb moment came from what might seem a surprising source – motorways. “Places like motorway verges are really beautiful if you look at them in a different way,” Steve says. “That was definitely the gateway into this perspective – no one is going in and maintaining them and we thought: how can these places look so beautiful and be so vibrant and resilient when no one’s looking after them?”
The journey to answer that question, among others, led the pair to form Wild City Studio, which now collaborates with experts on the same wavelength – from other landscape and garden designers to urban farmers, mushroom experts, community gardeners, horticulturalists, ecologists, entomologists, plant growers and permaculture experts.
As Steve says, “Wild City Studio stands for the ethos that, only through team work and a sharing of skills, can we work on the big environmental and social challenges – and this starts in our own green spaces.”
More: 7 Trends from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023
Jon and Steve joined forces after meeting in 2017 at the Hampton Court Flower Show, where Jon won Best Garden for a Changing World and a gold medal for London Glades, and Steve was helping to install another show garden. “We instantly clicked,” Steve recalls, “and have been on this journey ever since.”
A big lightbulb moment came from what might seem a surprising source – motorways. “Places like motorway verges are really beautiful if you look at them in a different way,” Steve says. “That was definitely the gateway into this perspective – no one is going in and maintaining them and we thought: how can these places look so beautiful and be so vibrant and resilient when no one’s looking after them?”
The journey to answer that question, among others, led the pair to form Wild City Studio, which now collaborates with experts on the same wavelength – from other landscape and garden designers to urban farmers, mushroom experts, community gardeners, horticulturalists, ecologists, entomologists, plant growers and permaculture experts.
As Steve says, “Wild City Studio stands for the ethos that, only through team work and a sharing of skills, can we work on the big environmental and social challenges – and this starts in our own green spaces.”
More: 7 Trends from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023
How does brownfield gardening support wildlife?
“It’s quite common that people look at wildflowers and plants as the pollinators – and that’s great,” Steve says. “But, actually, there’s also a lot going on within the soil and substrate that’s good for wildlife.”
He explains how the crushed site waste approach – which typically uses rubble from 4cm in diameter down to dust – creates lots of little voids and crevices: a perfect habitat for invertebrates, which like to nest in such spaces. This, of course, then attracts birds and creatures for whom these insects are prey. “You are supporting a much broader food chain,” Steve says.
Sand is also a useful material. Jon talks about using it to create habitats for our native, solitary bees – referencing John Little, who runs Grass Roof Company and is, perhaps, the godfather of the brownfield gardens movement. In recent years, John has been experimenting to find aesthetically pleasing ways to incorporate sand mounds into garden designs, which create a vital habitat for burrowing bees – often overlooked when we talk about creating bee-friendly gardens.
“It’s quite common that people look at wildflowers and plants as the pollinators – and that’s great,” Steve says. “But, actually, there’s also a lot going on within the soil and substrate that’s good for wildlife.”
He explains how the crushed site waste approach – which typically uses rubble from 4cm in diameter down to dust – creates lots of little voids and crevices: a perfect habitat for invertebrates, which like to nest in such spaces. This, of course, then attracts birds and creatures for whom these insects are prey. “You are supporting a much broader food chain,” Steve says.
Sand is also a useful material. Jon talks about using it to create habitats for our native, solitary bees – referencing John Little, who runs Grass Roof Company and is, perhaps, the godfather of the brownfield gardens movement. In recent years, John has been experimenting to find aesthetically pleasing ways to incorporate sand mounds into garden designs, which create a vital habitat for burrowing bees – often overlooked when we talk about creating bee-friendly gardens.
“Our most vital pollinators are solitary bees,” John Little states on his website. “These wonderful bugs get overlooked in favour of the more glamorous and sociable honey bee … but the majority of our 250 species of native bees nest in the ground.
“Last year,” he continues, “we trialled what we’re calling sand planters, a section of drainage pipe filled with soil surrounded by a perforated steel ring packed with sand. We are hoping this will be a way of getting a pile of sand into urban places and providing space for plants.”
“Last year,” he continues, “we trialled what we’re calling sand planters, a section of drainage pipe filled with soil surrounded by a perforated steel ring packed with sand. We are hoping this will be a way of getting a pile of sand into urban places and providing space for plants.”
What makes this approach to gardening so sustainable?
Jon shares the startling statistic that between 100 and 200 million tonnes of construction industry waste is created every year in the UK. “Part of what we do is repurpose the hardscape materials – into benches or water features, for example – but we also look at how we can crush and reuse materials,” he says. “Rubble is actually an amazing habitat layer.”
The type of plants that thrive in this environment are extremely hardy and typically won’t require watering much, if at all.
Jon shares the startling statistic that between 100 and 200 million tonnes of construction industry waste is created every year in the UK. “Part of what we do is repurpose the hardscape materials – into benches or water features, for example – but we also look at how we can crush and reuse materials,” he says. “Rubble is actually an amazing habitat layer.”
The type of plants that thrive in this environment are extremely hardy and typically won’t require watering much, if at all.
Doesn’t the result just look – well, messy?
“It doesn’t have to look beautiful all year round – that’s not nature. But that’s the trick of the design – we can create a sense of permanence and practicality, so you can use the space and enjoy it,” says Steve, who acknowledges a mental shift is needed when appreciating gardens designed in this way.
“[Jon and I] both went through horticultural training and the first time I poured crushed concrete back into a bed I felt like I was going mad,” he says. “It does take a bit of rewiring.”
There are two ways into the approach – you either let your existing garden go wild, or you have a wild space designed from scratch. Jon describes his own garden as the first type. “I have a traditional garden I’ve let go wild and I work ecologically to manage the space; you have to find a balance you’re comfortable with. But I’ve put hardly any money into it and it’s full of what I’d want to be in it.”
Jon and Steve agree that the input of a professional makes sense. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’ll soon look an absolute shambles,” Jon says. “For example, brambles, bindweed, nettles, ground elder and alkanet can all cause problems.”
However, Steve adds, “If you create a low-fertility garden, then nettles and brambles won’t generally want to grow there – they prefer the sort of topsoil found in traditional gardens.”
Jon describes his garden now (midsummer) as looking “a bit ropey”, but says the knowledge that it’s providing an amazing habitat layer changes the way he looks at it. “It really helps me to know how much my garden is being used, knowing I have these layers of wildlife, and that there are stag beetles flying around.”
“It doesn’t have to look beautiful all year round – that’s not nature. But that’s the trick of the design – we can create a sense of permanence and practicality, so you can use the space and enjoy it,” says Steve, who acknowledges a mental shift is needed when appreciating gardens designed in this way.
“[Jon and I] both went through horticultural training and the first time I poured crushed concrete back into a bed I felt like I was going mad,” he says. “It does take a bit of rewiring.”
There are two ways into the approach – you either let your existing garden go wild, or you have a wild space designed from scratch. Jon describes his own garden as the first type. “I have a traditional garden I’ve let go wild and I work ecologically to manage the space; you have to find a balance you’re comfortable with. But I’ve put hardly any money into it and it’s full of what I’d want to be in it.”
Jon and Steve agree that the input of a professional makes sense. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’ll soon look an absolute shambles,” Jon says. “For example, brambles, bindweed, nettles, ground elder and alkanet can all cause problems.”
However, Steve adds, “If you create a low-fertility garden, then nettles and brambles won’t generally want to grow there – they prefer the sort of topsoil found in traditional gardens.”
Jon describes his garden now (midsummer) as looking “a bit ropey”, but says the knowledge that it’s providing an amazing habitat layer changes the way he looks at it. “It really helps me to know how much my garden is being used, knowing I have these layers of wildlife, and that there are stag beetles flying around.”
How can we employ these ideas in our own gardens?
This residential garden, designed by Steve for a client, shows the second approach: designing a ‘brownfield’ garden from scratch. It features concrete and brick waste, with gabions, log piles, an edible meadow and a ‘brown roof’ (which is left to self-vegetate from seeds carried by birds or the wind) on the shed
“The aim of this garden was to show what was possible in a small urban space, [somewhere] that was great for wildlife as well as functional for the client,” Steve says. “By steering clear of more traditional approaches to ‘wildlife gardening’, we’ve been able to create a unique palette of materials that celebrates the ideas of ‘wild porosity’ – providing the spaces for nature to find its own balance.” But, he adds, it’s also a functional garden for the clients to escape into.
Creating this kind of garden involves the same sort of consultation and design process as for a ‘traditional’ garden. “It always has to be practical – that’s the fun of being a designer. It’s all about balance,” Steve says. “We chat to the client about their wants and needs – even down to washing lines. It’s no different. A lawn, especially for children, is a big one, but the green, constantly cut lawn is not necessarily the thing.”
Jon adds, “Most of the time [the direction] actually comes from the kids – their parents tell us they say, ‘I want more trees, or more forest fun.’ Kids are so into having a strong relationship with nature.”
This residential garden, designed by Steve for a client, shows the second approach: designing a ‘brownfield’ garden from scratch. It features concrete and brick waste, with gabions, log piles, an edible meadow and a ‘brown roof’ (which is left to self-vegetate from seeds carried by birds or the wind) on the shed
“The aim of this garden was to show what was possible in a small urban space, [somewhere] that was great for wildlife as well as functional for the client,” Steve says. “By steering clear of more traditional approaches to ‘wildlife gardening’, we’ve been able to create a unique palette of materials that celebrates the ideas of ‘wild porosity’ – providing the spaces for nature to find its own balance.” But, he adds, it’s also a functional garden for the clients to escape into.
Creating this kind of garden involves the same sort of consultation and design process as for a ‘traditional’ garden. “It always has to be practical – that’s the fun of being a designer. It’s all about balance,” Steve says. “We chat to the client about their wants and needs – even down to washing lines. It’s no different. A lawn, especially for children, is a big one, but the green, constantly cut lawn is not necessarily the thing.”
Jon adds, “Most of the time [the direction] actually comes from the kids – their parents tell us they say, ‘I want more trees, or more forest fun.’ Kids are so into having a strong relationship with nature.”
Wild City Studio worked on this carbon negative housing development in east London, which shows, again, how beautiful and practical the results of their approach can be. Walkways were made from brick, rubble, crushed concrete and old glass, bound with Cemfree (cement-free) concrete, while salvaged stone cobbles bleed into the beds.
If you’re planning home renovations, Jon advises consulting a landscape professional as early as possible – well before the build, ideally. “This is something we’re really pushing for: there’s so much that will otherwise go in a skip that could be used in your garden,” he says.
Although there’s a cost to creating the crush (hiring a mini crusher costs around £600), they say you should make other significant savings – from potentially not having to hire a skip to not shelling out for compost, topsoil, mulch, gravel and so on – that will, at worst, cancel out this cost; at best, reduce your outlay.
Jon also advises managing what the builders discard and where. Having clay footings (dug to create foundations for an extension, for instance) scattered across the garden is common, and is “a nightmare, because it creates the worst environment for a garden”, as many plants won’t thrive in it and compacted clay, which restricts water, nutrient and air movement, will require work to improve it.
If you’re planning home renovations, Jon advises consulting a landscape professional as early as possible – well before the build, ideally. “This is something we’re really pushing for: there’s so much that will otherwise go in a skip that could be used in your garden,” he says.
Although there’s a cost to creating the crush (hiring a mini crusher costs around £600), they say you should make other significant savings – from potentially not having to hire a skip to not shelling out for compost, topsoil, mulch, gravel and so on – that will, at worst, cancel out this cost; at best, reduce your outlay.
Jon also advises managing what the builders discard and where. Having clay footings (dug to create foundations for an extension, for instance) scattered across the garden is common, and is “a nightmare, because it creates the worst environment for a garden”, as many plants won’t thrive in it and compacted clay, which restricts water, nutrient and air movement, will require work to improve it.
Where are there more examples of this approach to garden design?
It wasn’t just Wild City Studio highlighting this approach at the Chelsea Flower Show. The renowned garden designer, Cleve West, won a gold medal for his Centrepoint Garden (seen here), in which nature bursts from the ruins of a derelict house. The design included plants generally considered to be weeds and a fallen tree, contributing towards the creation of a natural and evolving habitat.
Cleve told the RHS, “The house has been destroyed and nature is slowly taking it over, with all the typical weeds you’d see on a site that’s been abandoned for several years. It’s nature’s way of healing and good to have an excuse to get weeds into a show garden, when they’re generally banned!”
Indeed, a third of the Show Gardens this year featured plants such as brambles, thistles and knapweed, with the show rebranding such “weeds” (or PFKAW: Plants Formerly Known as Weeds, as some have quipped) as “hero plants”.
Also at the event, the multimedia artist Catriona Robertson created an installation that featured pieces of old corrugated iron surrounded by weeds.
Elsewhere, in 2021, another Houzz designer, landscape architect Sally Bower, won a prestigious RHS bursary to study brownfield and gravel gardens.
Her report, Nature Rising from the Rubble, rounds up a number of key players and profiles five significant UK gardens – four in Essex: RHS Hyde Hall’s Dry Garden; Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden; John Little’s own garden, Hilldrop, and a car park John designed for Langdon Nature Discovery Park; plus the Horniman Museum Grasslands Garden designed by James Hitchmough in south London.
Sally’s research led her to conclude that, “Growing plants in aggregates can be easier to establish, maintain and manage long term. It is a permanent surface that is weed seed free [unlike soil or compost, which – unless heat-treated – is likely to contain weed seeds] and, with the right plant choice, is long-lived without irrigation.”
In addition, she says, using recycled aggregates (such as crushed concrete, brick, or ceramic waste) is very sustainable. Plus the poor fertility can result in a range of less common plants, which can be very beneficial for wildlife.
“There seems to me to be enormous scope for this approach to be used at all scales to create planting schemes adapted to climate change for people and wildlife.”
The ideas Jon and Steve are working with are heading towards the mainstream – and certainly councils and the owners of other public and commercial buildings are getting on board. Watch this space.
It wasn’t just Wild City Studio highlighting this approach at the Chelsea Flower Show. The renowned garden designer, Cleve West, won a gold medal for his Centrepoint Garden (seen here), in which nature bursts from the ruins of a derelict house. The design included plants generally considered to be weeds and a fallen tree, contributing towards the creation of a natural and evolving habitat.
Cleve told the RHS, “The house has been destroyed and nature is slowly taking it over, with all the typical weeds you’d see on a site that’s been abandoned for several years. It’s nature’s way of healing and good to have an excuse to get weeds into a show garden, when they’re generally banned!”
Indeed, a third of the Show Gardens this year featured plants such as brambles, thistles and knapweed, with the show rebranding such “weeds” (or PFKAW: Plants Formerly Known as Weeds, as some have quipped) as “hero plants”.
Also at the event, the multimedia artist Catriona Robertson created an installation that featured pieces of old corrugated iron surrounded by weeds.
Elsewhere, in 2021, another Houzz designer, landscape architect Sally Bower, won a prestigious RHS bursary to study brownfield and gravel gardens.
Her report, Nature Rising from the Rubble, rounds up a number of key players and profiles five significant UK gardens – four in Essex: RHS Hyde Hall’s Dry Garden; Beth Chatto’s Gravel Garden; John Little’s own garden, Hilldrop, and a car park John designed for Langdon Nature Discovery Park; plus the Horniman Museum Grasslands Garden designed by James Hitchmough in south London.
Sally’s research led her to conclude that, “Growing plants in aggregates can be easier to establish, maintain and manage long term. It is a permanent surface that is weed seed free [unlike soil or compost, which – unless heat-treated – is likely to contain weed seeds] and, with the right plant choice, is long-lived without irrigation.”
In addition, she says, using recycled aggregates (such as crushed concrete, brick, or ceramic waste) is very sustainable. Plus the poor fertility can result in a range of less common plants, which can be very beneficial for wildlife.
“There seems to me to be enormous scope for this approach to be used at all scales to create planting schemes adapted to climate change for people and wildlife.”
The ideas Jon and Steve are working with are heading towards the mainstream – and certainly councils and the owners of other public and commercial buildings are getting on board. Watch this space.
Tell us…
Would you be up for adopting any of the brownfield garden design ideas mentioned here? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.
Would you be up for adopting any of the brownfield garden design ideas mentioned here? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments.
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Steve Williams (left) and Jon Davies each run their own landscaping firms – Gold & Wild and Steve Williams Landscapes – but it was working together, as Wild City Studio, that led to the pair being awarded a Chelsea medal this year.
Their winning design, the Centre for Mental Health’s The Balance Garden (pictured below), was created to demonstrate how people in cities can find a balance between urban architecture and nature.