Landscaping and advice
In landscaping and advise its just like in art, it’s not only what do you get from my work as a viewer? but what do we create together.
In landscaping with an expertise in Biodiversity and climate adaptation, I try to restore our connection with nature, where we can recharge in a green in a sustainable environment.
Biodiversity and climate adaptation is leading to create an environment where we live in connection, in symbioses with nature.
Urban landscaping is all about social encounters, dynamics between residents and nature.
Fulfilling an important link in the ecological system, an interplay between nature and our daily human life.
How I work:
It all starts with a conversation,
I always start with a determination of the surrounding landscape to learn and understand. Learning about the history, understanding the scale, understanding our relation to the surrounding landscape.
This is the starting point where I work from, the side specific approach.
Biodiversity and climate adaptation are my guidelines in urban landscaping and advice.
As the changing climate increases the frequency of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, landscaping practices must adapt to withstand these conditions. This includes selecting plants that are more tolerant of drought or waterlogging and designing landscapes that manage stormwater effectively.
By integrating climate adaptation strategies into landscaping, we create environments that are more sustainable, reduce environmental impacts, and help communities better cope with the realities of a changing climate.
Climate adaptation in landscaping helps preserve local ecosystems by promoting native plant species that are well-suited to the changing climate. This supports local wildlife and helps maintain ecological balance, biodiversity.
Biodiversity is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems and for the well-being of human societies. It provides important ecosystem services such as pollination, soil fertility, and pest control, and it also contributes to cultural, recreational, and aesthetic values. However, urbanisation and the expansion of cities often lead to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, which can have negative impacts on biodiversity.
Urban landscaping can help to mitigate these impacts by creating more resilient and adaptable small ecosystems. And with this having a positive impact on biodiversity, reducing the urban heat island effects, and improving water management.
By designing and managing urban landscapes in a way that supports biodiversity and climate adaptation we can enhance the quality of life for both humans and other species in urban areas.
Investing in nature in biodiversity in climate adaptation is an important step to a more sustainable and symbiotic society.
Biodiversity
While manicured lawns and carefully arranged flower beds have long dominated traditional landscaping practices, there is a growing appreciation for the untamed charm of wildflowers.
Wildflowers come in a dazzling array of colors, shapes, and sizes, creating a vibrant tapestry in any landscape. Their unassuming beauty evokes a sense of freedom, as they gracefully sway in the wind and adapt to their surroundings. From the delicate petals of daisies and buttercups to the robust blooms of poppies and lupines, wildflowers offer an enchanting display that changes with the seasons, infusing landscapes with ever-changing hues and textures.
Urban landscaping can play an important role in promoting biodiversity in urban areas.
By incorporating native plants. The most significant advantage of incorporating native plants is their role in promoting biodiversity. Unlike exotic or cultivated flowers, native wildflowers have co-evolved with local ecosystems, providing crucial habitats and food sources for native insects, birds, and other wildlife. By reintroducing these native plants to our landscapes, we can create ecosystems that support a diverse range of species, fostering a healthier and more balanced environment.
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, play a vital role in our ecosystems and food production. However, their populations have been declining due to habitat loss and the use of pesticides. Wildflowers act as natural magnets for pollinators, offering nectar and pollen-rich food sources throughout the year. By planting wildflowers, we can create valuable stepping stones and corridors that enable these essential creatures to thrive, contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and ensuring pollination.
In an era of increasing water scarcity and the need for sustainable practices, wildflowers offer a practical solution for water conservation in landscaping. Native wildflowers are adapted to the local climate, requiring minimal irrigation once established. Their deep roots help to prevent soil erosion and increase water infiltration, reducing the need for watering and preventing runoff. By utilizing wildflowers in landscaping designs, we can create water-wise landscapes, although the changing climate makes it more and mare a challenge.
Another advantage of incorporating wildflowers into landscaping is their low maintenance and cost-effective nature. Once established, wildflowers tend to be hardy and resilient, requiring minimal care, mowing, or fertilization. This characteristic makes them ideal for large areas, road verges, and slopes that are challenging to maintain with traditional landscaping methods.
Embracing wildflowers in landscaping serves as a testament to our commitment in creating vibrant and resilient outdoor spaces, and adds a touch of natural elegance.
Projects
São Bartolomeu de Messines, Portugal
Designing for Sustainability: A Small Farm Built on Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
Commission to advise and design a small farm focused on self-sufficiency, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. This project, set in the beautiful and dynamic landscape of southern Portugal, represents a marriage of tradition and modern ecological understanding.
Terracing with Purpose
Terrace farming, a technique practiced for hundreds of years, forms the foundation of this. By reshaping slopes into flat, stepped plots, terraces significantly reduce soil erosion, enhance water retention, and create more arable land for cultivation. These benefits are especially crucial in regions vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, where drought, unpredictable rainfall and soil degradation threaten agricultural productivity.
Research underscores the value of terraces in improving soil fertility, while soil erosion can be reduced by more than 50% on properly terraced land. The advantages can extend beyond agriculture, terracing creates microhabitats that support biodiversity when offering opportunities to integrate native plants and attract pollinators and other beneficial species.
Planning for Biodiversity and Climate Adaptation
The farm’s design will prioritize biodiversity on even the smallest scale. Native and climate-resilient plant species will play a central role in stabilizing soil, attracting pollinators, and fostering a balanced ecosystem. This approach not only supports crop productivity but also builds resilience against pests and diseases.
Water management will be another critical component, as terracing naturally slows runoff and allows water to seep into the soil. the farm can store water efficiently, and limits water use during drier months.
Respecting the Landscape
Every decision will honor the natural contours of the land, ensuring that the farm’s design blends seamlessly with its surroundings. This approach minimizes disruption to the existing ecosystem while enhancing its functionality. By working with the landscape rather than against it, the farm will serve as a model for sustainable land use.
Research and understanding
This commission begins with research and understanding of the area. The research about the soil, vegetation, water availability, and climate patterns while engage with local knowledge to create a plan, a vision for a harmonious relationship between people and the land. By combining traditional techniques like terracing with modern ecological insights, I aim to create a space that thrives sustainably while contributing to biodiversity and resilience in the face of a changing climate.