Growing a food forest for bristol
Compost-Powered Farming for Soil, Food and Community
Generation Soil CIC operates a two-acre agroforestry market garden in Bristol, producing vegetables, fruit, herbs and perennial crops through regenerative growing practices rooted in soil health.
This is practical agriculture rooted in soil regeneration.
2
acres for food production
74
native + productive trees planted
1,000m2
growing beds established
650
willow cuttings planted
Regenerative agriculture rooted in living soil
The Generation Soil Food Forest Market Garden is a working agricultural site in Abbots Leigh, Bristol. We produce food from soil we are actively rebuilding through composting, agroforestry, and regenerative growing practices.
The site began as compacted, biologically depleted land. Through consistent compost application, cover cropping, and careful planting, the soil is responding. Earthworms are returning. Water infiltration is improving. Crops are establishing.
This is long-term agricultural work, season by season.
ESTABLISHED TO DATE
What we have built in six months
74
Native and productive trees
Including small-leaved lime, rowan, Siberian pea tree, common juniper, and 33 mixed native woodland species at agroforestry spacing.
650
Willow cuttings planted
Multiple varieties including Continental Purple, Golden Willow, and Salix viminalis establishing a productive coppice woodland for biomass and habitat.
400 m
Native hedgerow established
Mixed native hedgerow planted along the site boundaries, providing habitat, shelter, and ecological connectivity within the landscape.
4 x IBC
Rainwater harvest system
Four IBC storage tanks installed on site to capture and store rainwater for irrigation throughout the growing season, reducing reliance on mains water.
1,000 m2
Growing beds in production
Established annual growing beds with green manure cover crops, broad beans, herbs, and companion planting integrated throughout.
In progress
Wildlife pond and swales
A pond and micro-swales are being dug across the site to manage water on land, support biodiversity, and improve soil moisture retention.
SITE DESIGN
Six productive zones, one living system
The market garden is organised as an integrated agroforestry system. Each zone has a distinct productive and ecological function, and each supports the others.
1. Permaculture Forest Garden
Seven-layer agroforestry system with canopy trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and climbers. Apples, pears, hazel, blackcurrants, gooseberries, wineberry, and native woodland species.
4. Hugelkultur Beds
Three mounded beds built from layered woody debris and compost. A traditional permaculture technique that builds long-term soil fertility and water retention. Planted with squash, beans, sunflowers, and wildflowers.
2. Mandala Herb Garden
Concentric circular beds of medicinal and culinary herbs including hyssop, marsh mallow, lavender, feverfew, yarrow, rosemary, thyme, and sage. Dye plants woven throughout.
5. Coppice Woodland
650 willow cuttings plus hazel, alder, birch, and dogwood establishing a productive coppice rotation. Provides on-site woodchip for composting and mulch, wildlife habitat, and a renewable source of structural materials.
3. Perennial Vegetable Beds
1,000m² of growing beds with asparagus, sorrel, lovage, fennel, and companion planting. Annual crops including broad beans, beets, cavolo nero, and green manures in rotation.
6. Wildlife pond and swales
A pond and micro-swales are being dug across the site to manage water on land, support biodiversity, and improve soil moisture retention.
THE SYSTEM
A loop you can see and taste
The compost produced through the Bristol Living Compost Project is applied directly within the market garden. Food waste collected from Bristol homes and businesses is fermented, matured, and transformed into living compost. That compost builds soil fertility. That soil produces food.
SOIL RESTORATION
Rebuilding depleted land
When we began managing this site, the soil was compacted clay with limited biological activity. Every season of agricultural work is rebuilding it.
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Living compost application from Bristol food waste
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Green manure cover cropping across the whole site
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Biochar for carbon storage and nutrient retention
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Bokashi fermentation to stimulate soil microbial life
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Mulching to protect and feed soil biology
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Agroforestry planting to maintain permanent root systems
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Minimal soil disturbance throughout
🌳 Canopy layer
Apple, pear, hazel, lime, rowan
🫐 Understory
Currants, gooseberry, jostaberry
🌿 Herbaceous
Comfrey, fennel, sorrel, herbs
🍓Ground cover
Wild strawberry, thyme, chamomile
🌱 Rhizosphere
Roots, fungi, beneficial microbes
🪱 Soil biology
Earthworms, bacteria, protozoa
🍄 Mycelial layer
Fungal networks connecting roots
Workshops and education across Bristol
Generation Soil runs composting workshops, soil education sessions, and community events at venues across Bristol and beyond. These sessions bring hands-on soil and composting learning directly into schools, organisations, festivals, and community spaces.
Our workshops have reached over 1,300 people across Bristol and beyond, from primary schools and allotment groups to corporate sustainability teams and academic conferences. All workshop and event enquiries are welcome.
