SWA’s Post

Landbase Project- A land-based project is a project that uses land for productive purposes, such as gardening, beautification, or urban agriculture. These projects can be for profit or community-based. Some examples of land-based projects include green stormwater infrastructure, solar, and community gathering spaces.

Out this year- handy guide on managing and planting native plants (in the Piedmont NC region) https://lnkd.in/dK2wKKeX

🌳 Planting Trees in Decatur: Key Requirements to Know 🌳 Decatur’s urban canopy is a critical part of the city’s environment and community character. To ensure that planted trees thrive and contribute effectively, the city has has specific guidelines: • Minimum Size Standards: New trees must have a minimum caliper of 2.5 inches • Approved Species: Trees must be selected from the city’s approved species list. Native species are strongly encouraged due to their resilience, ecological benefits, and ability to thrive in the Piedmont region. • Canopy Requirements: Each tree contributes to the canopy credit system, with different species providing specified square footage of canopy cover as they mature. Overstory trees (e.g., oaks) contribute significantly more than smaller ornamental species. • Proper Placement: Trees must be spaced appropriately to ensure room for growth. Overstory trees require a minimum of 25 feet from other trees, while smaller species need less. • Site Conditions: The planting location must be evaluated for soil volume, sunlight, and water availability to match the tree’s requirements and ensure successful establishment. These elements of the code help maintain Decatur’s canopy goals and also promote healthier, longer-living trees. For detailed information or guidance on your planting project, check out Decatur’s tree species list and canopy standards. #TreePlanting #Decatur #SustainableDevelopment

One of our projects at Bryn Athyn College included The Grant R. Doering Center for Science and Research, which was designed and constructed using the U.S. Green Building Council‘s LEED Rating System (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an internationally recognized standard for what constitutes a “green building.” Among the green features of the Doering Center: Site and Water Garden - One of the biggest environmental impacts that buildings have is on the land itself. Because the Center was built on a previously developed site, greenspace and ecosystems were not disturbed. In fact, the ecosystem was enhanced through the creation of a rain garden, which absorbs runoff from the impervious surfaces and allows stormwater to soak into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains and local waterways. The plants within the rain garden include native wildflowers, sedges, rushes and ferns. Landscaping - The landscaping around the building features native, drought-tolerant and non-invasive trees, shrubs, and grasses. These native plantings eliminate the need for an irrigation system, minimize the need for fertilizer and pesticides, and establish a supportive ecosystem for birds and wildlife. Learn more about the ways in which the Doering Center contributes positively to the environment: https://lnkd.in/eWmUZw-c... #LEEDS #raingarden #ecosystem #nativeplants #environmentallyfriendly #landscapearchitecture #landscapedesign

Atmospheric river about to slap the coast of California. What a good time to plant water! Planting water is a practice of working with keyline design to help infiltrate water into the soil through sub surface non-inversion keyline ploughing. In order to do so you need to understand, key points, and how to work with nature in a very intimate and intricate way. This is a technique that I have worked intensively with for the last 16 years after having some intensive study and download from Darren J. Doherty. Once you know what a keypoint is and where to look, it's hard not to design an assist from these points. It is the true essence of working with nature rather than against it, and taking nature lead when implementing design onto land. The attention to the details and what you want the water to do then becomes very dynamic Are you collecting it into a pond or are you distributing it out onto the ridge? You put the water where you want plants to grow but you have to make sure you don't oversaturate areas, and if you do you collect it, can you ask for what. There are so many factors to take into consideration. Form follows function What ploughing pattern are you engaging with? How are you terminating the lines and are they infiltrating or intercepting with on contour swales, perennial plant, in conjunction with your annual production These are all concepts and decisions to be made when designing and planning out abroad acre or farm. Super stoked to be finally connecting with Dave Shaw and the Santa Cruz Permaculture project/farm he has going on south of Pescadero. I'll be teaching a two day/two-part workshop coming right up this weekend on the heels of our first atmospheric river. Working with nature, we got out there today to do the initial key line work so David could plant a cover crop in this 9 acre field. With the change of the weather also comes a bitter cold wind, which I always joke is my kryptonite. Still grateful that this is the work I do and look forward to sharing with those who come to the workshop. Truly an awesome work with it slopes and different soils. We still have a few spots available if you want to bring your inner five year-old well bring your boots and gear. Nothing beats playing in the rain sometimes. #PlantingWater #RegenerativeAgriculture #PermacultureDesign #WeCanFarmIt https://lnkd.in/gVdETTvY

Keyline Design is a technique for designing context-specific water management patterns that slow water down, spread it out evening across the landscape, and soak it into the soil. Subsoiling along these patterns before large precipitation events is a great way to increase water infiltration, reduce erosion, mitigate floods, and recharge ground water supplies. 👍✊🙌

I am very glad to finally announce the publication of our latest article in the Journal of the American Planning Association: "Beyond the Golden Shovel: Recommendations for a Successful Urban Tree Planting Initiative." Urban tree planting initiatives (TPIs) are now widely acknowledged as essential for making our cities more livable and sustainable. Policymakers are increasingly aware of the need for trees and greenery to address climate change and many other urban challenges. Through enhanced knowledge and dissemination, we can equip managers, planners, and politicians with the tools they need to green our cities. However, it is crucial that we maintain our momentum, as numerous challenges remain and many stakeholders still need to be engaged to truly create green cities and sustainable urban forests. In our article, we delve into the comprehensive work required for successful TPIs. We provide recommendations for the pre-planting, installation, and post-planting phases, emphasizing the importance of securing adequate funding, adopting place-based landscape design, engaging communities, following arboricultural best practices, and continuously evaluating performance. The significance of this publication lies in its potential to influence how urban tree planting initiatives are planned and executed globally. By drawing from our combined experience and extensive research, we aim to help cities not only meet but exceed their urban greening goals. The article is of course free to download and read via: https://lnkd.in/dwyHGkKZ #UrbanForestry #GreenInfrastructure #UrbanPlanning

Raised planters are an excellent solution for incorporating planting in finished landscapes where site disturbance needs to be limited or where traditional in-grade plant beds are too maintenance-intensive. The #landscapearchitects @symbio_design can help develop solutions that add value and intrigue to your landscape. Let's talk at mwhite@symbio-design.com

Our Loch Ness Forest Project is thriving according to a site visit last week. The project comprises a permanent, broad-leaf nature reserve within the Glen Affric Conservation Zone. Here is what our forester had to say about it. Main Hill: Thirty sample plots were taken and the average number of trees in the pots was 20.4 trees giving a stocking density of 2,040 tees per planted hectare with an average height of 0.8m. All planted species ae growing well and have extended growth this season. There is also excellent natural tree regeneration appearing especially on the front face and southern boundary with eleven plots with natural regeneration present. Heather has recovered within the fence and blaeberry is flowering, spreading and fruiting. Dalcrag: Eighteen plots were taken with the average number of trees per plot at 19.9 giving 1,990 trees per hectare. Average height was higher than the main hill at 1.2m with some trees nearly 2.4m! There is extensive natural regeneration primarily on the southern edge with regeneration plots ranging from ten to over two hundred trees present. Within the fenced area wildflowers have expanded with native primrose, meadow sweet and ragged robin in addition to the other pasture wildflowers. Conclusion: Both sites are growing very well. Dalcrag is slightly ahead, partly due to its soils and the higher elevation and exposure. Both sites are meeting the requirements of the grant obligations and are on target to fulfil the carbon calculations. The amount of natural regeneration and diversity of the ground flora is impressive compared to areas outside the fences. As the trees are establishing and densities are good. There is no need for further planting. The two areas of denser bracken in Dalcrag will be cut back during summer 2024. 

The last forty years or so years has seen a wonderful revival in the construction of new traditional timber-frame buildings and the conservation of our surviving historic stock. Both of these areas complement the need to reduce energy consumption in construction and to embody more carbon storage so the future looks reasonably healthy as long as issues such as skill shortages can be addressed. The focus though is nearly always on European Oak, which has many desirable qualities. However much of this oak has been imported from Continental Europe rather than from home-grown supplies and so developing this market. The latter is possible and offers advantages such as being able to use trees of similar size and grade as were often historically used and to be able to match the type of conversion, but this approach has not yet been widely adopted by the industry. Similarly, the quest to broaden the range of different species used has not yet blossomed. The good news is that Forest Research have just published Wood Properties and uses of Larch in Great Britain. Whilst larch is a conifer, albeit deciduous, it is sometimes tagged as an “honorary hardwood” due to its good blend of density, strength, stiffness and durability. This excellent and detailed report brings together a wide range of information and hopefully will stimulate and encourage the greater use of home-grown larch for a wide variety of applications. Go Larch! See Wood properties and uses of larch in Great Britain (forestresearch.gov.uk)