Oxfordshire Food Forest: Garden Design for Nature & Play

Sara, Alex and their son Seb were looking for a better solution for their garden.

Having moved into a new home, the garden they inherited had become a source of anxiety. Seb is autistic, and the enclosed walled garden had the potential to become a place where he could feel completely at home, while giving Sara and Alex the confidence to let him roam freely. The problem was that the garden simply wasn't living up to that potential.

The traditional layout was a sea of tired paving slabs with a handful of established plants but very little intention. It felt like a space the family had to keep clean and tidy, rather than somewhere Seb could interact with freely without everyone worrying about things being damaged.

The solution? Lean into the wild instead of working against it. Nature is the great leveller. No matter who we are, we all connect with it. The aim wasn't to create a playground just for Seb, but one for the whole family. A place to escape into, unwind, and stop worrying about keeping on top of the "weeds".

Today, the garden has become a thriving food forest, filled with immersive layers and things for Seb to pick and eat throughout the seasons. There are places for him to explore, little nooks to call his own, and, of course, his beloved swing that he goes absolutely crazy on. Just as importantly, there are spaces for morning coffee, quiet moments, and gathering with friends and family.