A community-led gardening project has brought some green-fingered joy to Walthamstow, says Georgia Bonfield from St James Street Big Local
St James Street Big Local, in partnership with Waltham Forest Council with additional funding from the Mayor of London, is delighted to announce the completion of the greening project at the end of Buxton Road in Walthamstow.
This project was also made possible with the collaboration with What If Projects, who embarked on a design journey that placed the desires of local residents at its core. This approach involved targeted engagement events with residents during the summer of 2023.
These events were pivotal in guaranteeing that every decision reflected the input and aspirations of the community residing around the project site.
The result is a green space that truly belongs to and reflects the values of the neighbourhood, showcasing the power of inclusive design and community-driven initiatives.
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Residents and pupils carefully selected which plants and trees they wanted in the space with key aspects being a wildflower garden to support local wildlife and encourage biodiversity – two of these were included and are growing as you read this!
Once the local Authority’s contractor Riney had completed the ground preparation, Meristem worked tirelessly to get all the plants and trees on the site and the addition of fruit trees and other greenery has significantly enhanced the area and over the coming months will grow to form a fantastic place to go to pick rosemary, apples and more.
A community planting day in March saw pupils from Mission Grove School and local residents get involved in planting activities outside the school. It was a fantastic event, and they were all proud of the work accomplished together! The next goal is to fill up the remaining resident planting beds to further enhance the green space.
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