We’re delighted to be involved in the Nature Neighbourhoods project, along with 17 other neighbourhoods across the UK, the RSPB, WWF and National Trust.

We are working in the Tufnell Park area to create a Nature Neighbourhoods Framework, thinking with residents and other stakeholders about what a local ‘Nature Neighbourhood’ would look like.

Find out more about the project here!

In August 2018 we took over an unused space on the Hollins and McCall Estate in Tufnell Park. The site is now a successful growing space where food is grown and distributed to Food Hubs across the borough and local residents get involved in growing workshops.

We are thrilled to be working with residents on the Tufnell Park Estate in the development of two new growing spaces:

New Community Food Growing Area: creating a thriving space for food growing.

New Woodland Garden: development of a food forest for people and nature. 

These new gardens will be green community assets where residents can relax, connect with nature, and learn more about gardening.

Working with Islington Mencap’s Me TIme programme, every Thursday morning the Me Time join us at the Community Plant Nursery, playing a vital role in growing plants and seedlings for local growing groups, sharing skills and knowledge as we go.

Building on the rich history of Caledonian Park, we are working with the local community and stakeholders to develop a new Food Forest, celebrating local diversity and embedding art into this newly created space.

In the Autumn, two new willow sheep were created with local residents, and late winter will bring a tree planting workshop; Quince, Medler, Olive and Mulberry.

The Highbury Grove Sensory Garden project has seen the transformation of a previously locked space, with residents involved at every stage, including co-designing the space, the build process, planting and maintainence.

A successful winter wreath workshop was held in December, where residents created their own festive decorations, as well as bird boxes to be placed in the garden. Leaf printing workshops have encouraged younger residents to get involved and creative.

As part of our work on the Boston & Nailour Estate, we are facilitating a series of workshops for residents, which involve improving the growing spaces on the estate.

So far we’ve worked together to transplant a variety of plants and bulbs around the estate in bespoke planters and edging and come together for a festive wreath making session that was attended by residents interested in being a part of creating a sustainable and nature engaging approach to producing decorative festive material.

Be the first to know about events, activities and information from the Urban Growing Team by subscribing to our mailing list here.

Thanks to funding secured from the North London Waste Authority’s Community Fund, our Urban Soil Food project is underway - creating three demonstrator Community Composting Hubs and training up ‘Urban Soil Farmers’ who have a passion for transforming green waste and food waste in to nutritious food for soil.

Want to get started? Watch our composting video!

Since 2020 we’ve worked in partnership with Elizabeth House Community Centre to transform three unloved green spaces on the Highbury Quadrant Estate. These spaces are now thriving community gardens, where residents connect and grow together.

Highbury Quadrant received a Silver Award at Islington in Bloom 2022!

The 4H, Hops, Herbs, Health and Happiness Garden was created on an unused space next to Whittington Park Community Centre. It’s now looked after by local residents and the food is shared among them and with the Centre’s community cafe.

Part of the Finsbury Park Ward Improvement Plan, and in collaboration with the Community Hub, the project aims to increase resident engagement through community-led gardening activities, to promote the health and wellbeing benefits along with environmental improvement, ensuring local people have the knowledge and confidence to maintain the gardens over the longer term.

After a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2016 we transformed a milkfloat into the Islington Gro-Mobile! A mobile potting shed and garden classroom travels the borough to transform unloved spaces.

Look out for us on the road!

Local GoodGym volunteers have played a key role in the transformation of Market Road Gardens from overgrown and underused, to a accessible, multipurpose space for the whole community to spend time in.

Packington Square provides a perfectly sunny spot for veg growing. Working with The Arc Community Centre and lots of volunteers, veg is being grown for the food bank - and there’s even more growing space to come.

A rooftop garden was always on the cards for the new Brickworks Community Centre building. After lots of hard work it’s now a brilliant kitchen garden, where local people can get involved in growing - and enjoy the food!

Brickworks received a Silver Award at Islington in Bloom 2022!

Collaborating with Global Generation and Islington Council, the Action for Local Food project worked to build a community movement to address climate change through growing, reducing food waste and managing soil.

The Bloomin’ Gardeners have been growing in Caledonian Park since 2014. They now work on two plots, and the gardeners meet weekly to grow and socialise. The next plan is to grow salads for the new community cafe!

A new community garden, founded in 2022 with Hornsey Lane Estate Community Association, Brickworks and St Mary’s Church. The garden creates a space where the community can come together to grow food, share skills and enjoy nature.

Be the first to know about events, activities and information from the Urban Growing Team by subscribing to our mailing list here.