Forest Gardening (or Agroforestry) is a way of growing edible crops with nature doing most of the work. A forest garden imitates young natural woodland, with a wide range of crops grown in different vertical layers. Species are chosen for their beneficial effects on each other, creating a healthy system that maintains its own fertility, with little need for digging, weeding or pest control. The result of this largely perennial planting is a tranquil and beautiful, but also productive space. Whether a small area in your back garden or a larger plot, here is advice on how to create a forest garden with great environmental benefits: from planning and design (using permaculture principles) to planting and maintenance. With a changing climate, we must grow food sustainably, without compromising soil health, food quality or biodiversity and Forest Gardening offers an exciting solution to the challenge.

Creating a Forest Garden also includes a detailed directory of over 500 trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals, root crops and climbers – almost all of them edible and many very unusual. As well as more familiar plants you can grow your own chokeberries, goji berries, yams, heartnuts, bamboo shoots and buffalo currants.

Forest Gardening is a novel way of growing edible crops - nature does most of the work for you! A forest garden imitates young natural woodland, with a wide range of crops grown in different vertical layers, with little need for digging, weeding or pest control. Species are chosen for their beneficial effects on each other, creating a healthy system that maintains its own fertility, and also creating a beautiful space.

Creating a Forest Garden tells you all you need to know, whether you want to plant a small area in your back garden or develop a larger plot. It includes advice on planning, design (using permaculture principles), planting and maintenance, and a detailed directory of over 500 trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, annuals, root crops and climbers - almost all of them edible and many very unusual.

Foreword by Rob Hopkins                                

Introduction                                                          

Part 1: How forest gardens work

1.  Forest gardens                                             

2.  Forest garden features and products          

3.  The effects of climate change                    

4.  Natives and exotics                                     

5.  Emulating forest conditions                        

6.  Fertility in forest gardens                            

Part 2: Designing your forest garden

7.  Ground preparation and planting                

8.  Growing your own plants                            

9.  First design steps                                        

10.    Designing wind protection                      

11.    Canopy species                                        

12.    Designing the canopy layer                     

13.    Shrub species                                           

14.    Designing the shrub layer                       

15.    Herbaceous perennial and ground-cover species         

16.    Designing the perennial/ground-cover layer    

17.    Annuals, biennials and climbers             

18.    Designing with annuals, biennials and climbers

Part 3: Extra design elements and maintenance

19.    Clearings                                                  

20.    Paths                                                            

21.    Fungi in forest gardens                            

22.    Harvesting and preserving                      

23.    Maintenance                                            

24.    Ongoing tasks                                          

Glossary                                                           

Appendix 1: Propagation tables                       

Appendix 2: Trees and shrubs for hedging and fencing

Appendix 3: Plants to attract beneficial insects and bees

Appendix 4: Edible crops by month of use       

Resources: Useful organisations, suppliers and publications

Martin Crawford has worked in organic agriculture and horticulture for many years. He is director of the Agroforestry Research Trust, a charity that researches temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cropping and uses, with a focus on tree, shrub and perennial crops.