Garden Doctor

Gardening is not necessarily ecologically beneficial but we do try to make it so and to reduce our footprint during garden and landscaping projects.

Chris set up Bristol Green Gardeners to promote good practice and link discerning customers with professionals practising green gardening. www.bristolgreengardeners.com

- We try to minimise waste and maximise use of reclaimed materials such as timber, bricks and blocks.

- We offer options on locally and nationally sourced materials for outdoor structures, such as Larch, Cedar and Oak that resist weathering without the need for pressure treatment with toxic preservatives.

- We look to make space in any garden for wildlife nesting and feeding, from birds to solitary bees. Green roofs, wild corners, ponds, woodpiles, nectar plants, native trees and so on. Even new structures can be modified to provide invertebrate nesting sites. We will schedule tree and clearance operations to avoid disturbance to nesting birds and pond renovation mindful of the aquatic population.

- We prefer to use cultural and biological controls and organic garden chemicals over inorganic pest and weed control. That said, there are occasions when more noxious systemic herbicides are used to kill plants rooted into walls and other structures we seek to preserve. Soil improvers and fertilisers are also selected upon green criteria and efficacy.

- We help families to grow their own food, compost their organic waste, harvest the rain, learn about and encourage wildlife in their gardens.

- We can support environmental education efforts at home and school and create play structures in coppiced willow and hazel, childrens' digging and growing areas, build nest boxes with you...