Paths and roads
Between the Gardens there should be 4m wide paths, sown with a mix of grasses and wildflowers, native to the area. Every Garden will also be connected to a network of access roads. In the places where these roads run, the distance between the Gardens needs to be wider, 5m or so, so bigger vehicles can come in to deliver compost and trees and building materials etc.
Every community will need to decide what to make the roads with, material wise.
There are a few options:
- Crushed concrete covered by tarmac makes a nice road to drive on, and is quite affordable to put down. The disadvantage is that it usually needs repairs quite frequently, because drainage is poor.
- Concrete is very durable, and quite good to drive on. It is a lot of work to put down, and costs more -initially- than tarmac.
- Southern water uses a kind of hard plastic matting to get access to farmland. It is very strong and durable, and grass and other plants can grow through the gaps. The design also holds the soil in place, thus preventing dips in the path from forming, even on slopes.
The difficulty would be getting hold of it, as it is not a commercial product. We have no information about costs at present, but as this matting comes in tiles of 40 x 40cm approx. it would be easy to put down and it is very easy to replace any broken sections.
This material is also ideal for using in your Garden, as you can have plants growing in the gaps, making the paths look alive.