Case Study 8: FSC Margam - Survey
Design QuestionnaireDesign Questions - The Edible Garden at FSC Margam Please have a think about or discuss over meal times the following questions. They will overlap quite a bit but that is good and intentional as it provides us with a clear picture of your requirements. The more versions of this we get the better, so it is fine to return it from several people.
I.e. social space for overnight guests, eat, play games ...
I would like to have a teaching space to sit students down in so that growing themes can be taught about surrounded by the beds etc – Help with engagement when covering other topics. Be able to have a class of 30 young persons plotting , planting , pruning. Raised beds suitable for children to use + disabled access bed– wide kneeling space between (to discourage sitting on beds) 4-8 large beds for vegetable growing. Border space for meadow plants Archway in! Innovative access (crawl through tunnel?) Clear and concise interpretation board – this is our garden...etc Bean tepee for sitting in
Example food for students to see Teaching space – sitting and working Growing space Multiple demonstration sites for teaching Communicate the importance of sustainability to the public Inspire teachers to replicate the model in schools Food would supplement the cafe Increase the opportunity to deliver courses, e.g. pruning if there are fruit trees. Raised bed standards: 1 m between beds, 1.2 metre wide, as long as desired. Disabled access Site must support 30 kids + tutor + 2 teachers Demonstrate container growing. Tyres on site, some staff keen to 'skip' Small space urban gardening (containers, tyres on site, potato stack – outside of normal rotation) leisure learners course - ‘gardening in a year’ Key stage 2 - mainly picking and planting things, food science I.e. food, attract bird life, relaxation, play games, views, educational space, demonstration of ...
Needs
Wants
Desires
Large bee/mini beast hotels along edges 4-8 raised beds to work around Bean tepee Open /sheltered teaching space Potting area Nursery zone?? Heritage varieties (list) List of things that can be grown and harvested in term time Fruit – top and soft. Local apple varieities, blackcurrants do well, Small things to pick, e.g. peas, broad beans. Strawberries Small space urban gardening (containers, tyres on site, potato stack – outside f normal rotation) Edible hedge Peas Brassicas – ornamental kale Sweetcorn Courgettes Squash – climbing? sensory plants eg herbs flowers, particularly for pollinators teaching space benches shed raised beds potting shed and potting area (benches) fruit - - variety through the season so groups can see stages through the year Lots of things on site, eg composters etc Leeks Cress Courgettes Cucmber Flowers for the peas Rhubarb Herbs
Sunflowers! Always amazing to look at! Sensory garden - smelly herbs
To engage students(residents) and the public in food where it comes from and how easy it is to grow your own. To have a space to engage students in the outside where food /smells/ wildlife in the garden can enhance students involvement and engagement in the outside world. Demonstration for visiting teachers Exemplar project
Limited time per tutor – 2 hours a week from our Education assistants more than happy to spend 20 min or so a day tending. Maybe an hour a week within personal time. Dig, design, plant, sit, rest, watch and grow! Heather to lead the work Other tutors and Education Assistants would chip in. Down to Earth – Hedge laying and Cobb oven Must be easy to determine what jobs need doing. Busy times: Sep, Oct & April, May, June Site is occupied all year Use the teaching timetable to get jobs done, e.g. planting, weeding Must not rely on volunteers, but would be appreciated.
We already have many of the tools required, forks, spades, etc Main expenditure likely on water butts, seeds, trays, trellis (if appropriate) Unsure, but the FSC do have a green fund for onsite works. Total pot is 20k to share across all sites. Reuse materials from site as much as possible. Green fund applied for - £2,300, + involve volunteers
Open and accessible – practical in terms of management – sealed paths raised beds. Keep it simple and easy to maintain Wheelchair access
No budget for deer fencing – use existing only Polytunnels would not fit the site aesthetic Site attracts 16,000 visitors per annum Cafe is open to the public at certain times of the year Grass cuttings currently piled up, not used Kitchen waste composted but not used. Adjacent to car park so will be first impression for visitors Manhole covers! Weather records on shared drive Long Term Vision The cafe to overlook a wildlife garden, with nesting boxes and views to the pond. Some trees will need to be removed. Table info to feature a birds checklist 2 firepits Roundhouse over Cobbhouse to serve as an outdoor bad weather teaching space. Drainage improved below pond, with potentially a second pond downstream |
Site Survey |