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Building the Localist Landscape

The recent heatwaves are not an isolated event. They are part of a trend. Whether one attributes them mainly to climate change, natural climatic variation or a combination of influences, the practical conclusion is the same. Britain is becoming warmer, summer droughts are becoming more frequent, and water can no longer be treated as an unlimited resource.

For those embracing localism this is not simply another gardening challenge. It is an opportunity to redesign our homes, farms and localities to become more resilient.

The traditional English garden evolved during centuries when summer rainfall was usually dependable. The future may demand something closer to Mediterranean thinking, while still respecting Britain’s winter rainfall and occasional cold spells.

The objective changes from growing plants that need watering to creating landscapes that rarely need it.

Water is the New Currency

Every drop of water becomes valuable.

Instead of asking how we can water more efficiently, we should first ask why water is needed at all.

Healthy soils rich in organic matter can hold several times more water than depleted soils. Deep-rooted plants survive long dry periods because they reach moisture unavailable to shallow-rooted species.

Rain that falls during winter should be regarded as income saved for summer.

The localist approach is therefore:

• Build soil rather than buy fertiliser.
• Capture rainfall rather than extract groundwater.
• Grow drought-resistant plants rather than thirsty ones.
• Shade the ground rather than leave bare soil exposed.

Rethinking the Land

Perhaps the greatest mistake is assuming the existing landscape should remain unchanged.

For generations fields have been flattened, hedges removed, streams straightened and water drained away as quickly as possible.

The future may require the opposite.

Land should increasingly be shaped to slow water.

This may include:

• shallow swales following contours
• ponds connected by overflow channels
• small reservoirs
• terraces on slopes
• restored hedgerows
• shelter belts of trees
• wetlands in unsuitable corners

Instead of flooding in winter and drought in summer, rainfall can remain within the landscape for months.

Every farm becomes a water storage system.

Every garden becomes a miniature watershed.

The Soil Comes First

Soil is Britain’s greatest water reservoir.

Adding compost, leaf mould, well-rotted manure and wood chips greatly increases water retention.

Bare soil should become rare.

Mulches reduce evaporation dramatically while suppressing weeds.

No-dig methods disturb soil organisms less and allow fungi and earthworms to build underground channels that carry water deep below the surface.

Healthy soil feeds healthy plants.

Choosing Food Crops

Future gardens may contain fewer thirsty vegetables and more reliable crops.

Good choices include:

• broad beans
• climbing beans
• peas (early season)
• onions
• garlic
• shallots
• beetroot
• chard
• kale
• spinach beet
• Jerusalem artichokes
• globe artichokes
• squash
• pumpkins
• courgettes
• sweetcorn where moisture is available
• herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and lavender

Perennial vegetables deserve renewed attention because their deep roots tolerate drought better than annual crops.

Examples include:

• asparagus
• rhubarb
• sea kale
• Good King Henry
• sorrel
• perennial onions

Many traditional Mediterranean vegetables may become easier to grow than they once were.

Grain and Protein

Smallholders should consider crops that provide calories rather than simply vegetables.

These may include:

• field beans
• peas
• oats
• rye
• barley
• heritage wheats suited to local conditions

Local milling and baking become increasingly valuable community skills.

Fruit Trees for Tomorrow

Fruit trees remain among the wisest long-term investments.

However, species and rootstocks deserve careful thought.

Deep-rooted trees generally outperform shallow-rooted bushes during drought.

Reliable choices include:

• apples
• pears
• quinces
• mulberries
• walnuts
• sweet chestnuts
• medlars

Some traditionally southern species may become increasingly successful.

These include:

• figs
• apricots
• peaches in sheltered sites
• almonds in favourable districts

Olives may eventually become practical in southern Britain, although severe winters will occasionally remain a risk.

Young trees need watering while establishing themselves.

Once mature they should survive with little assistance.

Around each tree the ground should remain permanently mulched.

Grass should not be allowed right up to the trunk.

Soft Fruit

Soft fruit can struggle during prolonged drought.

Nevertheless:

• blackcurrants
• gooseberries
• autumn raspberries
• blackberries
• jostaberries

remain worthwhile if mulched well.

Blueberries require acidic soils and regular moisture and may become increasingly difficult without irrigation.

Flowers Still Matter

Localism is not only about survival.

Beauty strengthens community life.

Flowers celebrate births, weddings, anniversaries, harvest festivals and remembrance.

The future garden should still provide abundance.

Reliable drought-tolerant flowers include:

• lavender
• echinacea
• yarrow
• verbena bonariensis
• gaura
• rudbeckia
• cosmos
• salvia
• sedum
• eryngium
• agapanthus
• helenium

Traditional cottage garden flowers can still flourish if planted into improved soil and deeply mulched.

Many herbs provide both flowers and food for pollinating insects.

Flowers for the Home

Cut flowers should become part of everyday local life rather than an imported luxury.

Grow plants with long vase life.

Excellent choices include:

• dahlias
• zinnias
• snapdragons
• sweet peas where moisture allows
• sunflowers
• chrysanthemums
• asters
• statice
• strawflowers for drying

Dried flowers may regain popularity because they require no refrigeration or constant replacement.

Seasonal arrangements using grasses, seed heads, berries and dried stems celebrate the changing year.

Pollinators Become Essential Workers

Without insects there is little fruit.

Gardens, farms and roadside verges should provide nectar throughout the growing season.

Avoid sterile ornamental plants.

Allow some wild corners.

Accept that perfect tidiness may become the enemy of resilience.

Greenhouses Must Change

The traditional greenhouse becomes increasingly difficult to manage.

Summer temperatures above 45°C may become common inside.

Plants stop growing.

Pollination fails.

Water demand soars.

Future greenhouses may need:

• external shading
• removable shade cloth
• white reflective coatings
• roof ventilation
• side ventilation
• solar-powered extraction fans
• rainwater-fed irrigation
• thermal mass such as water tanks
• grape vines trained over roofs
• deciduous shade trees nearby

Some growers may discover that a shade house is more useful than a greenhouse during midsummer.

Water Harvesting

Every roof should become a catchment.

Rainwater tanks should become normal.

Overflow should feed ponds.

Grey water from baths and showers may irrigate trees where regulations and suitable biodegradable products allow.

At community level, local reservoirs and ponds may become as important as village halls.

Farms of the Future

Large monocultures become increasingly vulnerable.

Mixed farming offers greater resilience.

Livestock return nutrients to the soil.

Trees provide shelter.

Hedges reduce drying winds.

Agroforestry may become one of Britain’s most productive farming systems.

The farm becomes a living ecosystem rather than a factory.

Learning from the Mediterranean

Many regions around the Mediterranean have survived dry summers for thousands of years.

Their lessons include:

• white buildings reflecting heat
• courtyards creating cool spaces
• thick walls storing coolness
• shaded outdoor living
• drought-tolerant crops
• water stored through winter
• planting for shade before ornament

Britain need not copy these exactly, but their underlying principles are increasingly relevant.

Communities Working Together

No household needs to face these challenges alone.

Neighbouring gardens can exchange seeds.

Smallholders can share equipment.

Villages can establish communal orchards.

Local nurseries can propagate plants already adapted to local conditions.

Seed saving becomes a valuable community activity.

Knowledge becomes every bit as important as water.

A New Vision

The localist garden of the future may look different from today’s.

There will be more trees, deeper soils, fewer lawns, more mulch, more shade and more perennial plants.

There will be ponds where there were once dry corners.

There will be fruit where there were once ornamental shrubs.

The landscape will hold water rather than shed it.

Above all, it will work with nature instead of constantly struggling against it.

That is the deeper lesson of a hotter Britain. Localism is not simply about living closer to home. It is about reshaping the places where we live so they become capable of sustaining us through whatever climate the future may bring.