Programme Overview

The Self-Sustaining Garden Programme provides a behavioural stewardship layer that complements formal design, planning and management mechanisms by supporting outcomes on private plots that sit outside statutory control.

What the Self-Sustaining Garden Programme Is

 The Self-Sustaining Garden (SSG) programme is a digital, resident-facing stewardship resource that helps homeowners manage their private gardens in ways that support key project outcomes, including:

•  SuDS functionality (healthy soils, reduced compaction, protection of vegetated features)
• Green Infrastructure and biodiversity resilience (better plant establishment and survival)
• Low-input, low-nutrient garden management (supporting soil and water quality)
• Long-term stewardship expectations set out by design teams and LPAs
• It provides residents with simple, practical guidance that aligns everyday garden decisions with the environmental aims of the development.
• A secondary benefit is improved resident confidence and pride in place, which many housing associations and regeneration teams consider important for neighbourhood quality and wellbeing.
• It supports project outcomes through resident behaviour and stewardship, not through changes to statutory metrics.

What the Programme Teaches (in brief)

Residents receive clear, accessible guidance on: 

• Soil structure & compaction prevention → supports SuDS performance and healthy rooting
• Plant establishment & low-input care → reduces plant loss and replacement
• Simple biodiversity practices → increases ecological value at plot scale
• Drainage-sensitive gardening → protects infiltration and avoids overloading SuDS
• Wildlife-friendly approaches → supports pollinators and local GI networks
• Delivered online, with optional co-branding where appropriate for project teams or consultants

Developer & Project Benefits

The programme provides a scalable, low-resource way for developers to:

•  Demonstrate a credible resident stewardship pathway in tenders
• Support planting, SuDS and GI intent after occupation
• Reduce customer-care issues linked to gardens, waterlogging and plant failure
• Strengthen ESG and placemaking narratives centred on resident engagement
• Enhance brand value through a practical, sustainability-focused handover resource

What the Programme Is Not

• It does not generate BNG units
• It is not part of statutory BNG or nutrient-neutrality mitigation
• It does not replace an HMMP or legally secured management
• It is not an on-site or off-site habitat enhancement