Sustainability & Our Responsibility
Design excellence at Karen McClure Garden Design maintains its principles without harming the Earth. Each project enables us to decide consciously about habitat protection and biodiversity support while reducing our environmental impact.
Starting with What’s Already There
Prior to adding new features to a space, we perform a “garden edit” to assess existing thriving elements. Older trees and established shrubs as well as overlooked perennials usually hold hidden potential. We strive to revitalize existing garden elements or find them new homes within the updated design to preserve the garden’s essence while minimizing waste whenever feasible.
Always Learning
We acknowledge our lack of complete answers but remain dedicated to our learning process. Our commitment to growth leads us to participate in CPD sessions and attend industry events such as FutureScape and The Landscape Show to engage with seminars and discussions that broaden our perspective. We teach ourselves and our clients about how each material choice and design decision creates ripple effects.
Conscious Material Choices
Every tiny decision leads to enduring consequences. We maintain strict specifications because of the environmental impact of imported stone and ethical timber sourcing. Our material selection process gives preference to products that hold FSC certification along with local origin and minimal embodied energy. Our procurement strategy involves choosing UK suppliers when feasible because doing so helps local businesses and reduces transportation distances and packaging waste.
Supporting Biodiversity
Our planting schemes promote ecological health while going beyond mere visual appeal. Our approach includes selecting indigenous and drought-tolerant plant species when possible while maintaining harmony with natural processes. The planting strategy includes rootball trees as a standard choice for creating robust and healthy tree establishment when feasible. We obtain plants from reliable Kent nurseries that cultivate them in conditions similar to the planting location to enhance their resilience.
Soil is treated with care and respect. Healthy existing soil stays in place with strict horticultural hygiene measures to prevent cross-contamination. We reuse or recycle plant pots whenever possible.
Water Conscious Design
Water is precious. We install rainwater harvesting systems throughout the site to supply irrigation lines whenever possible since they are especially beneficial during periods without rain. We strategically place plants in their optimal locations to minimize the need for artificial watering systems.
Minimising Our Footprint
The lessons we learned during the pandemic now guide our actions. Our travel emissions decrease through remote work practices along with digital meetings and limiting site visits wherever possible. Our building process includes the use of locally sourced landscaping materials whenever possible to maintain our low carbon footprint and provide support to local suppliers.
Respecting the Past, Protecting the Future
The sites we develop contain historical layers which we are committed to preserving and respecting through our work. In both listed building sites and wildlife-sensitive zones where tree protection orders protect deer, bats or nesting birds we operate with great care. The lighting system works to enhance the environment without causing damage through discreet and non-invasive light sources that include baffles and glare guards to protect nocturnal species.
A Focus on Nature
Our approach involves increasing plant coverage while reducing hard surfaces so we can maintain expansive open soil spaces and natural green areas. Our goal? To create gardens that feel alive. Our approach generates increased biodiversity along with enhanced ecological awareness and improved planning strategies. We use reclaimed materials and innovative designs that enhance sustainability to constantly seek improvement.