Empower homebuyers to create sustainable gardens.
Strengthen your reputation and deliver real biodiversity while effortlessly meeting BNG, S106, and CSR commitments.
This is the Self-Sustaining Garden programme.
The Problem
Beautiful show-homes, empty gardens.
Most new homeowners want their gardens to thrive — but few know where to start. Without support, lawns die, borders fail, and frustration sets in. Complaints follow.
For developers, that means:
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Poor resident satisfaction scores and brand damage
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Missed opportunities to demonstrate real Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
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Unmet landscaping obligations under S106 or local planning conditions
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Lost CSR/ESG credibility and added customer-care costs
It’s an easy gap to close — with the right post-handover support.
The Solution: The Self-Sustaining Garden (SSG) Programme
Garden Footprint delivers an online learning package for every buyer, guiding them step-by-step to design, plant and care for a resilient, wildlife-friendly garden.
Developers strengthen BNG and S106 delivery with long-term resident engagement.
Buyers gain confidence, success and satisfaction.
Everyone wins.
Benefits for Developers
- Planning and Compliance – Supports S106 landscaping and BNG delivery with evidence of long-term stewardship.
- CSR and ESG Value – Demonstrates genuine care for people and planet, improving well-being, biodiversity and climate resilience.
- Happier Residents – Buyers feel equipped, supported and proud of their gardens, reducing complaints and call-backs.
- Predictable Costs – Bulk SSG access codes provide consistent per-plot pricing, easy to budget and scale.
- Positive Optics – A simple, visible story to tell planners, partners and the public: you’re building homes that support biodiversity beyond completion.
Meet Mike - Founder, Garden Footprint
BSc Geography (Climatology and Ecosystems).
Early career in construction project management, including S106 public consultation with Davis Langdon (now AECOM).
Teacher of Geography and Gardening to over 1,000 students.
Certified Permaculture Designer through Oregon State University. Commended by world-leading permaculture educator Javan Bernakevitch.
Mike founded Garden Footprint to help adults create biodiverse, edible, low-maintenance gardens that improve well-being and environmental health. The Self-Sustaining Garden programme brings this expertise directly to new homeowners, de-risking your landscaping commitments and strengthening your green credentials.
Schedule a Call
How it Works
Step 1 – Initial contact: We work with you to embed the Self-Sustaining Garden programme into your BNG, S106 and CSR strategies, ensuring it fits seamlessly within your project documents.
Step 2 – Bulk setup: You purchase SSG access codes per plot or development phase.
Step 3 – Resident handover: Each homeowner receives their access code in the welcome pack, giving them instant access to tutorials, planting plans and seasonal guidance.
Step 4 – Aftercare: Garden Footprint provides ongoing support, responding to resident questions by email and reducing pressure on your customer-care team.
Beautiful. Edible. EASY.
Watch the 50 second trailer for homeowners >
The online course to help create a thriving, low-maintenance garden — in just 4 hours.
Homeowners want:
- A simple, low-maintenance system
- An edible landscape
- A time-saving garden that is still nature friendly
- Practical, visual learning NOT theory and waffle
- A garden that gives more than it takes
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"Easy to follow, full of real-world advice and gave me the confidence to get started."
- Hana, Wicklow, Ireland
Read full review
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I am so glad I took this course, It had everything I needed; structure, a healthy gardening mindset, money saving ideas and lots of additional resources. This course enables you to take action immediately to create a more self sustaining garden, thanks to practical plans to do just what the course promises; Create a designed garden yourself that all can enjoy and that isn’t a tonne of work year in, year out.
I learnt more from this quick to get through course than years of trial and error (and heartbreak).
Easy to listen to, bite sized info that you can understand and apply directly to your own garden. After doing The Self Sustaining Garden course I have much more practical knowledge, to not only get my garden on track, but help with friends gardens too.
The Self Sustaining Garden was easy to absorb and I finished it quickly. I enjoyed the short informative content that focuses on the practical and found myself looking forward to the next module. I know I can go back to modules when I need them and the resources really are so helpful to have. I feel like I can now reinvent my garden for the site I have and create new, well thought out elements as well.
Hana, Wicklow, Ireland
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 / Oregon State University
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"Fun to watch and so informative. Mike has a lovely way of explaining everything!"
- Jenny, beginner gardener, Sussex, UK
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"The course is very beginner friendly and a great start to understanding how to create a garden that works for you."
- Dee Dee, beginner gardener, London
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I first got into gardening during the lockdown of 2020 - I was still working as a frontline worker and wanted to find a hobby that would take my mind off the current situation. I was essentially winging it with no prior knowledge or research and it was only until 2025 that I decided I wanted to take things further and actually dedicate some time to research and taking courses. This is where I found The Self-Sustaining Garden Course that Mike created. The course is very beginner friendly and is a great start to really understanding how to create a garden that works for you. A great wealth of knowledge has gone into the preparation of this course and you can really tell that Mike is dedicated to his craft. What stands out to me is that the videos are broken down into a few minutes each so it is easy to watch and take breaks in-between. I really recommend this course for those that want to expand their knowledge and get to grips with all areas of their garden.
Dee Dee, London
