Sustainable gardening at Pavilion Road

Peter, who oversaw more than 15 acres of gardens throughout Chelsea and played a key role in various planting schemes like those at Duke of York Square and Pavilion Road, is a staunch advocate of the 'micro gardening' movement. Pavilion Road served as an excellent example of this concept.

"You can cultivate the ingredients for a recipe in a planter on your windowsill or balcony, and there's no feeling quite like picking that first apple from the tree you've planted and nurtured."

The rewards and wellbeing associated with gardening are numerous, contributing to the growing popularity of the 'grow your own' movement. Homegrown edible plants not only have a minimal carbon footprint, as they don't require transportation over long distances, but they also produce no packaging waste and aren't subjected to artificial ripening or wax coatings for preservation.

Peter’s work with Pavilion Road was carefully designed with environmental considerations in mind, featuring plastic-free pots, peat-free compost, and sustainable plant feed in the form of mulch. Furthermore, the compost used for fruit cultivation was derived from bracken and discarded wool. Adding to the initiative's sustainability credentials was the water supply sourced from tanks that collected rainwater beneath the road, used to nourish the various plants.

The Pavilion Road Edible Trail aimed to inspire both residents and visitors to try their hand at foraging and to savor sustainably grown produce, while also encouraging people to cultivate their own crops.

"It's astonishing what can be achieved in a pot with the right location, proper conditions, and good compost. You just need to experiment and discover what works best for you."