Completely Revamped Zero-Waste Garden: Not a Single Thing Sent to Landfill During Transformation Process
In the heart of East London, award-winning landscape designer Miria Harris has transformed a small north-facing garden of a Victorian townhouse into a sustainable, plant-rich sanctuary for both the owner, Nicky, and local wildlife.
The garden, previously adorned with a tropical-style planting, composite deck, and raised concrete terrace, was not to Nicky's taste. Miria's approach to the redesign focused on naturalistic gardening, evoking a sense of calm and incorporating natural elements, which can imply the use of sustainable strategies such as reusing organic materials and promoting biodiversity.
One of the key sustainable features of the new garden design is water conservation. Miria implemented methods like harvesting and redirecting rainwater, ensuring the garden is not only beautiful but also eco-friendly. The deck was dismantled and reused, while the concrete terrace was incorporated into the new design.
The soothing color palette of the garden includes soft pinks, purples, blues, and white. The new garden design features a sea of colorful, pollen-rich perennials and wispy grasses, creating a vibrant and inviting space.
To future-proof the materials used in the garden, Miria opted for reclaimed timber for decks and walkways. The specific timber used is ekki, a highly durable African hardwood, which was removed from an old roof terrace on a high-rise apartment block due to fire risk. The broken bricks and old slate chippings were used as a sub-base to secure the timber walkway.
Miria's commitment to sustainability extends beyond the garden itself. She made efforts to recycle the plastic pots from the new plants by donating them to local community gardening projects, returning them to the supplier, or sending them to a specialist recycling plant.
For those interested in learning more about Miria's approaches to sustainability in urban garden design, including specific reuse and recycling techniques, exploring her portfolio or publications through her professional studio's communications, reviewing detailed reports or presentations from related London-based garden schemes or the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where she has been recognized, or attending relevant workshops or talks where she might present her strategies directly, would be beneficial.
In summary, Miria Harris advocates naturalistic and ecological garden design in London, which likely incorporates sustainable reuse and recycling principles, though comprehensive case study details specifically examining these strategies are not found in the current search results. Her work serves as a testament to the possibility of creating beautiful, sustainable urban gardens that benefit both people and the environment.
Miria Harris's sustainable garden design, located in East London, previously featured a tropical-style planting, composite deck, and raised concrete terrace that didn't fit Nicky's taste. To create a post-tropical sanctuary, Miria focused on naturalistic gardening, using soft pinks, purples, blues, and white color palette, and planting pollen-rich perennials and grasses for a vibrant and inviting space.
The sustainable features of Miria's garden design include water conservation strategies like rainwater harvesting and redirection, the reuse of the dismantled deck and concrete terrace, and the use of reclaimed timber like ekki for decks and walkways. Furthermore, Miria recycles plastic pots from new plants by donating them to local community gardening projects, returning them to the supplier, or sending them to a specialist recycling plant.
Miria Harris's commitment to sustainability extends not only to her garden designs but also to her approach to urban gardening. Those interested in learning more about her strategies can explore her professional studio's communications, review related London-based garden schemes or the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, attend relevant workshops or talks, or delve into detailed reports or presentations showcasing her work in sustainable garden design.
By focusing on naturalistic gardening, promoting biodiversity, and implementing sustainable reuse and recycling techniques, Miria Harris demonstrates the possibility of creating stunning urban gardens that cater to both people's lifestyles and the environment's needs, leading to a harmonious continuation of sustainable living within urban settings.
