Resident-led stewardship for green space performance
A resident-facing stewardship programme for private and communal plots, with no delivery burden for housing teams.
Helps green space perform for biodiversity, drainage and place quality.
The Self-Sustaining Garden programme
Download Overview pdf
The Problem
Green infrastructure often sits within spaces managed or influenced by residents. Whether private gardens, shared courtyards or rooftop landscapes, these spaces are rarely supported with clear guidance after handover.
Over time, this leads to:
- Inconsistent planting and maintenance standards
- Abortive, reactive management costs
- Declining biodiversity and SuDS performance
- Increased turnover-related remedial works
- Gradual deterioration of scheme appearance
- Reputational risk where green assets underperform
- No clear record of ongoing stewardship
Long-term placemaking depends on resident behaviour, yet few schemes provide structured support for green space stewardship.
The Solution
A structured, fully-hosted stewardship programme designed to protect the long-term performance of residential green space, with no additional burden on housing teams.
The programme provides:
- Clear, resident-friendly guidance on planting, soil and water management
- A shared operating framework for communal and resident-managed spaces
- Protection of biodiversity, SuDS performance and placemaking quality
- Reduced complaints, reactive maintenance and turnover-related remedial works
- A credible way to evidence ongoing stewardship and resident engagement
- Scalable, co-branded delivery across schemes or portfolios
How it works
A four-step, zero-admin process, scalable across all plots. Delivered within 5–10 days.
For consultants and bid teams:
Copy-ready wording and inclusion guidance is available on request.
Endorsement
“Mike's approach is deeply rooted in thoughtful, practical sustainability, with an eye for design that makes regenerative systems both effective and accessible. He brings a rare attention to detail that ensures solutions aren’t just good ideas; they’re well-executed, resilient, and impactful. His work has the potential to inspire and empower many.”
★★★★★
Javan Bernakevitch
All Points Design
Meet Mike Carthew - Founder & Director
Mike’s background spans construction project management, geography, ecological design alongside more than a decade working directly with learners and gardens. This combination gives him a practical understanding of soil, planting and place quality, and how resident decisions shape outcomes over time.
Garden Footprint was created to address the post-handover gap: translating sustainability and stewardship intent into clear, realistic guidance that residents can actually use. It helps housing providers protect long-term outcomes without adding delivery or management burden.
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