Part of my weekly work is to be business and development manager of the only school based engineering centre in the country. The centre has only been open a few months and was still being sorted when it opened. Now an area at the front of the building is being turned into a 'garden' and seating area for visitors and young people being trained there.
So, I am asked about plants for the centre and immediately we see probelms. Blackberries are good as they are food plants but quickly the walls and carpets would turn purple.
Pyrocanthus would be a good choice as it is spiky and evergreen but would require care as again, the berries can be used for ammunition!
In the end we are going to choose a variety of plants but it is a good chance to realise that design is in every decision, not just the ones relating to hard materials!
