Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore) Six-spot burnet moths enjoying the Bull thistle
Wildflower meadow in the making...
Phacelia (tanacetifolia Benth) "is listed in the top 20 pollen producing flowers for honeybees, and is highly attractive to pollinator insects including bumblebees and hoverflies. It provides a source of high-quality nectar and pollen. It also is desired as a cut plant for its persistence in floral arrangements"
Calycine Hawthorn (Crataegus rhipidophylla Gand.)
The common hawthorn supports at least 300 species of insects, including the caterpillars of moths such as the light emerald, lackey, small eggar, vapourer and lappet. Hawthorn leaves provide food for them throughout spring and summer. Meanwhile, the dense foliage makes the bushes perfect nesting spots for a variety of bird species, with a banquet of juicy caterpillars at close quarters upon which to feed their young.
A beautiful border of self-seeded Large yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata L)
Viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare L.)
"Viper's-bugloss is a hairy plant with dense spikes of bright blue, funnel-shaped flowers. It is found on chalk grassland, sand dunes, cliffs and disturbed ground, and is in bloom from May to September. It provides food for a range of insects, including Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebees, Large Skipper and Painted Lady butterflies, Honeybees and Red Mason Bees" (The Wildlife Trusts)
At Rhizome Gardens, we believe landscapes can be beautiful and provide ecological functions- supporting biodiversity, resilience and regeneration. We are dedicated to facilitating nature through thoughtful and creative design and maintenance, all while adhering to the principles of ecological gardening.
We understand that a garden is more than just an outdoor space; it's a living, breathing ecosystem that deserves our utmost respect. Our design approach centres on plant communities, emphasising interactions between species to build resilient, low-maintenance landscapes. We use layered planting ground covers, perennials, shrubs, and trees to support pollinators, wildlife, and soil health. By choosing adaptable plants, our designs withstand environmental stress while mimicking natural systems for lasting beauty and ecological function.
We work with clients who wish to create life-filled landscapes and want to make meaningful, lasting investments in their outdoor spaces. Rhizome Gardens works across Norfolk and Suffolk, UK, offering weekly to fortnightly personalised garden maintenance plans, and planting design, including wildlife ponds and meadows.
Founded in 2023, Charles comes from a multidisciplinary background having studied Fine Art and more recently an MSc in Climate Change. Charles' passion for facilitating ecological gardens comes from his experience working in Permaculture ‘an approach to land management and settlement design that adopts arrangements observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design principles derived using whole-systems thinking’. He is passionate about working with nature to support its abundance and believes that gardens play a crucial role in boosting local biodiversity while enhancing our well-being.