Planting at Chattowood Housing Development

July 2023

Recently, our neighbours Lanswoodpark, a commercial development adjacent to the gardens, gained planning permission for a residential development of eighty 3-5 bedroom houses. Subsequently, they approached us to ask if they could name their new development in honour of Beth and Andrew Chatto. Julia, Beth’s granddaughter and Managing Director of the Gardens agreed but in return asked if the Beth Chatto team could be involved in the design and planting of the site.

This presented an ideal opportunity to move away from the usual limited range of tried and tested evergreen shrubs and areas of mown grass that can be seen on every new build around the country. These plantings lack in any consideration to the potential of such areas in increasing the biodiversity of the wildlife and the aesthetics and engagement for future residents.

The open, sunny site at Chattowood lent itself to a drought-resistant planting and is based on the world- famous Gravel Garden, literally around the corner at Beth Chatto’s Garden, which has never been watered since its inception over thirty years ago. This area of the garden has inspired a generation of gardeners as a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing space, with zero water use and a dramatic improvement in biodiversity.

By choosing plants that are adapted and proven to withstand periods of low rainfall and planting them in a nutrient poor, yet free draining medium, the area will be greatly enhanced and provide a different way of thinking about urban planting.

August 2023-filling out nicely

Rather than use a nutrient-rich topsoil, which invariably contains weed seed and encourages weed growth resulting in subsequent use of membrane and bark chippings to control the weeds, the plants at Chattowood are grown in approximately 30cm (12 inches) of locally sourced sand and gravel. This weed-free planting aggregate will naturally dry out and form a crust on the surface, making it difficult for weeds to establish. Deeper down, the mixture retains moisture. The plants have been chosen to thrive in these conditions and, although initial growth will be much less than if the plants were planted in a rich soil, they will establish without the need for any artificial feeding or constant watering and weeding.

As well as their drought resistant capabilities, plant choice was based on the following criteria:

• low maintenance, e.g, no prolific self-seeders
• evergreens and greys for year-round interest
• diverse range of height, texture and form
• insect friendly plants to attract a diverse range of pollinators, butterflies, moths etc, which will in turn attract wildlife further up the food chain.

The initial phase of planting took place in April 2022, with the plants being thoroughly watered in immediately after planting. In most “average” summers this would have been the one and only watering these plants would receive. Little did we know that just weeks later we would be experiencing a severe dry spell and record high temperatures. Just 14mm of rain in ten weeks and constant temperatures of 30° Celsius or more meant that the plants were watered more than planned. The maintenance team at Chattowood, somewhat sceptical at first, have seen their efforts rewarded with remarkably few losses as the plants pulled through and started to grow away, attracting a diverse range of wildlife from the fascinating hummingbird hawkmoths, darting between the flowers of lavender and catmint, to the rather less welcome bunny rabbits trying out some new culinary delights, lamb’s ear being a particular favorite.

July 2022

July 2023

An important part of the planting design is engagement with those for whom the area will be part of their daily lives. We will continue to advise and support the community and maintenance team in the ongoing management of the planting.

Plants have also been chosen with bees, butterflies, and insects in mind increasing the natural diversity of the area considerably. The sand and gravel mix will also provide a home for several species of solitary bee which burrow and nest in such habitats. 

Our wildlife expert, Dr Chris Gibson has visited the site on seperate occasions to carry out an insect survey on the Chattowood planting. Here are his findings so far.

*the adjacent development planting consists of turf, lollipop trees, a few low shrubs and bedding.

Chris says '20x more insects, all potential pollinators, were present in the Beth-style planting. And that is with fewer flowers than I would have expected to see, one result of the drought and heat. It is good to report however that the number of plant casualties is very, very small indeed. Furthermore, those few insects that were next door were almost exclusively using the flowering ‘weeds’ daring to break their way through the dying turf.'

The signs of biodiversity increase are promising and we will keep you updated on the developing planting and any future insect surveys.

List of plants used:

Abelia 'Edward Goucher'

Agapanthus 'Navy Blue'

Agastache 'Beelicious Purple'

Agastache 'Blackadder'

Agastache 'Blue Fortune'

Anthemis 'Tetworth'

Artemisia abrotanum coca cola form

Artemisia 'Silver Queen'

Atriplex halimus 'Limelight'

Ballota acetabulosa

Ballota pseudodictamnus 

Bergenia eroica

Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby'

Bergenia 'Sunningdale'

Brachyglottis greyii Drysdale

Buddleja alternifolia

Buddleja crispa

Buddleja 'Lochinch'

Buddleja 'Pink Delight'

Buddleja 'Buzz Indigo'

Buddleja davidii 'Empire Blue'

Calamintha nepeta 'Blue Cloud'

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

Caryopteris × clandonensis 'Longwood Blue'

Caryopteris × clandonensis [Grand Bleu] ('Inoveris')

Ceanothus 'Blue Mound'

Ceanothus 'Concha'

Ceanothus 'Skylark'

Ceanothus 'Victoria'

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var repens

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Choisya ternata 'Greenfingers 

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina' 

Cistus x hybridus ‘Gold Prize’

Cistus laurifolius

Cistus parviflorus

Cistus populifolius

Cistus x dansereaui 'Decumbens'

Cistus x hybridus

Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset'

Cistus x purpureus

Cistus × lenis 'Grayswood Pink'

Cynara cardunculus

Erysimum mutabile

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii

Genista 'Lydia'

Helichrysum italicum

Hylotelephium spectabile 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Joy')

Hyssopus officinalis subsp. aristatus

Hyssopus officinalis 'Roseus'

Iris 'Jane Phillips'

Lavandula 'Melissa Lilac'

Lavandula 'Vera'

Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote'

Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso'

Malva x clementii 'Barnsley' 

Melianthus major 

Nepeta 'Chettle Blue'

Nepeta faassenii 'Purrsian Blue'

Nepeta racemosa 'Amelia'

Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'

Origanum 'Rosenkuppel'

Origanum laevigatum 'Herrenhausen' 

Origanum vulgare 'Pink Thumbles'

Origanum vulgare Thumble's Variety'

Phlomis russeliana

Poa labillardierei

Salvia 'Blue Spire'

Salvia officinalis

Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten' 

Salvia rosmarinus 'Foxtail'

Salvia rosmarinus 'Green Ginger'

Salvia rosmarinus 'Blue Lagoon'

Salvia rosmarinus 'Miss Jessopp's Upright'

Salvia rosmarinus prostratus

Salvia x sylvestris 'Viola Klose'

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Santolina etrusca

Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia 'Primrose Gem'

Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'

Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'

Stachys byzantina 'Primrose Heron'

Stipa gigantea 'Goldilocks'

Stipa gigantea

Stipa gigantea 'Alberich'

Stipa tenuissima

Teucrium x lucidrys

Thymus longicaulis

Thymus sp. ex Turkey

Verbena bonariensis

Veronica 'Nicola's Blush'

x Halimiocistus sahucii