How do you turn a car park into habitat?
The design journey behind a waterwise native garden in Viewbank
The Site
The front garden with nothing interesting going on. A compacted lawn used for parking, mud in the winter and dead grass in the summer. Ecologically dead and miserable to maintain.
WHAT I NOTICED:
Water runs downhill towards the neighbour, bringing runoff debris into storm drains
Space needed for two cars
A tall, strong fence looking for a better purpose
Strong exposed sun and late afternoon shade
Existing lawn offers no habitat and is eternally struggling
Compacted lay soil
— BUILDING HABITAT INTO A SUBURBAN YARD —
Create structure and food sources
CANOPY
Provides shelter and shade
SHRUBS
GROUNDCOVERS
GRASSES
Add movement and habitat
CLIMBERS