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🌳 Understanding Food Forests

What Is an Urban Food Forest and How Can You Be Part of One in the UK?

An urban food forest is not just a garden. It is a layered, productive ecosystem that grows food, supports biodiversity, and brings communities together. RunRig Garden is building them across the UK with landowners, skilled growers, and permaculture experts.

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The Basics

A food forest is a layered garden system that works with nature, not against it. By stacking plants at different heights — from tall canopy trees down to ground cover — you create a diverse ecosystem that produces food with minimal maintenance once established.

Layered Design

Food forests mimic natural forest structures with multiple layers: canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, ground cover, and root crops. Each layer serves a purpose and supports the others.

Self-Sustaining

Once established, food forests require minimal input. The diverse plant community creates its own soil fertility, pest control, and water retention — reducing the need for external inputs like fertilizers or pesticides.

Community Focused

Food forests are built to feed communities. They produce diverse crops year-round and create gathering spaces where people can learn, collaborate, and share in the harvest together.

How to Get Involved With a Food Forest in the UK

This is the pivot from information to conversion. RunRig Garden offers three ways to participate in building an urban food forest. Which one are you?

Land Owner

Share your unused garden and let it become a food forest.

Land Owner

Skilled Grower

Access land and grow food even if you have no garden of your own.

Skilled Grower

Permaculture Mentor

Permaculture Mentor

The Seven Layers

Every food forest is built on the same foundational structure. Here’s how the layers work together to create a productive ecosystem.

Land Owner

Share your unused garden and let it become a food forest.

Land Owner

Skilled Grower

Access land and grow food even if you have no garden of your own.

Skilled Grower

Permaculture Mentor

Permaculture Mentor

01

Canopy Layer

Tall fruit and nut trees (20-40+ feet). These provide shade, structure, and long-term food production. Examples: apple, walnut, chestnut.

02

Understory Layer

Smaller trees and large shrubs (15-20 feet). They thrive in the dappled shade of the canopy. Examples: hazel, medlar, serviceberry.

03

Shrub Layer

Productive shrubs (6-15 feet). Berries, currants, and other shrubs that produce food and support wildlife. Examples: gooseberry, blackcurrant, hawthorn.

04

Herbaceous Layer

Perennial and annual herbs and vegetables (1-6 feet). Leafy greens, herbs, and flowering plants that attract pollinators. Examples: comfrey, borage, asparagus.

05

Ground Cover Layer

Low-growing plants that cover the soil (0-1 foot). They prevent weeds, retain moisture, and fix nitrogen. Examples: clover, sorrel, strawberry.

06

Root Layer

Underground crops and root systems. Perennial roots that store energy and nutrients. Examples: Jerusalem artichoke, sunchoke, perennial onions.

07

Vertical Layer

Climbing plants and vines that use trees and structures. They maximize space and add diversity. Examples: kiwi, hops, climbing beans.
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Built to Last
Decades

What Makes a Food Forest Different From a Regular Garden?

Aspect Regular Garden Urban Food Forest
Planting Cycle Annual replanting required every season Perennial system, plants regrow and expand each year
Structure Single layer planting (beds or borders) Seven layers of plants working together
Inputs Relies on synthetic inputs and regular watering Self sustaining once established
Production Primarily decorative or small scale produce Significant food production from a relatively small space
Maintenance One person maintains it alone Collaborative, shared by a team with different skills

Why Food Forests Matter

Food forests aren’t just productive gardens — they’re regenerative ecosystems that benefit people, wildlife, and the planet.

Regenerative

They improve soil health, sequester carbon, and restore biodiversity over time.

Water Efficient

Layered design and ground cover reduce water needs by up to 50% compared to traditional gardens.

Low Maintenance

Once established, food forests need minimal weeding, watering, or pest management.

Community Building

They create spaces for people to gather, learn, and share in the abundance together.

How to Get Involved With a Food Forest in the UK

This is the pivot from information to conversion. RunRig Garden offers three ways to participate in building an urban food forest. Which one are you?

Land Owner

Share your unused garden and let it become a food forest.

Land Owner

Skilled Grower

Access land and grow food even if you have no garden of your own.

Skilled Grower

Permaculture Mentor

Permaculture Mentor

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Forests

Can you make a food forest in a small garden?

Yes. A food forest can be designed for any size of outdoor space. A small urban plot of 20 to 30 square metres can support two to three layers including climbing plants, shrubs, ground cover, and herbs.

How long does a food forest take to establish?

The first harvest from annual and biennial plants typically comes in the first season. Perennial shrubs produce within two to three years. A mature canopy layer can take five to fifteen years.

Is a food forest the same as a forest garden?

The terms are used interchangeably in the UK. Both describe a multi-layered productive garden system based on permaculture principles. RunRig Garden uses food forest as the primary term.

Do I need experience to be involved in a food forest?

No experience is necessary to join as a grower. Every RunRig project includes a permaculture mentor who designs and guides the system. You bring the enthusiasm; they bring the expertise.
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