OGSW 2019 Guidebook - Hackney by London Gardens Trust

Fassett Square © Candy Blackham

Weekend walks around Hackney

Recommended by Area Coordinator Lynne Eva

This walk links OGSW gardens open on Saturday or Sunday and other green spaces open all the time. Please check garden opening times before commencing your walk.

Saturday

Sunday

This walk and bus ride connects four community gardens and showcases local involvement across the Borough.

This walk takes in a cross-section of the beautiful, peaceful and creative gardens developed by local East End communities.

Starting at Manor House tube station (Piccadilly Line), cross the junction diagonally and follow Green Lanes for 400m to The Castle Climbing Centre, where you will find The Castle Garden (page 24) with its lovely café.

From Dalston Junction overground station, walk along Dalston Lane and Graham Road, passing Dalston Curve, until you reach Fassett Square (page 24) on the left. A 20-minute walk then takes you to St Joseph’s Hospice Garden (page 25) – walk along Greenwood Road, through London Fields, along Westgate Street and Bocking Street, and then right onto Mare Street.

If you have a spare half hour, follow the signs to Woodberry Downs Wetland Centre. If not, continue down Green Lanes and follow the Capital Ring route through Clissold Park towards Clissold House. Follow the New River to the exit at Stoke Newington Church Street. Opposite is Clissold Road, where Clissold Community Garden (page 24) sits between terraced houses.

HACKNEY

Return to Stoke Newington Church Street and turn right towards Stoke Newington High Street. Turn right and continue to bus stop Q (Amhurst Road). Catch the 149 bus down Kingsland Road to stop KB (Pearson Street). Walk along Pearson Street to St Mary’s Secret Garden (page 25). A further 10-minute walk along Appleby Street, Hows Street, Whiston Road and Cester Street will take you to Gloucester Square Residents’ Gardens (page 24). Finish by walking back to Kingsland Road overground station.

You can continue for a longer walk via the Approach Gardens (page 58) and Cranbrook Community Food Garden (page 59) in Tower Hamlets, or go straight to Gloucester Square Residents’ Gardens (page 24), a 15-minute walk away. After this, follow Beck Road directly opposite, then turn left at Sheep Lane, right at Duncan Road, left at Broadway Market, over the canal, right into Whiston Road, and right into Cester Street. You can detour to Columbia Road Flower Market (open 8am-3pm) by walking though Haggerston Park and left down Queensbridge Road. Otherwise walk through Haggerston Park then cross Hackney Road, pass through Ion Square Gardens and cross Warner Place, to reach St Peter’s Bethnal Green Church and Vicarage Gardens (page 59) in Tower Hamlets. The secret garden door opens at 2pm. Finish by returning through Ion Square Gardens to Columbia Road. A 15-minute walk takes you to Old Street tube station.

HK3. Fassett Square E8 1DQ Map 3

This garden, which inspired the setting for the BBC’s EastEnders programme, has been lovingly restored to its former glory by local residents. The square still has its original Victorian layout of paths which wind round island beds and lawns. Many original lime trees can also be found around the perimeter. In the far corner of the square sits the Grade II-listed Bruno Court, influenced by the Bauhaus school of architecture, which was once part of Hackney’s former German Hospital. It was converted into flats in 1999 and features a roof terrace with a panoramic view of the capital. Open: Sunday 10am-5pm Entrance: North end of square Access: Shallow gravel path throughout the garden; steps at entrance to Bruno Court Nearest stations: Hackney Downs, Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction Buses: 38, 56, 236, 242, 277+ 30

Fassett Square © Candy Blackham

HK1. The Castle Garden N4 2HA Map 2

The Castle Garden has been created over the past four years in the grounds of a disused Victorian water pumping station, which is now an indoor climbing centre. The kitchen garden features a forest garden, beehives, round house and willow dome and supplies the kitchen and café with organic produce. Herbs for tea blends and other herbal products are also grown and processed on site and sold in the shop and café. With self-sufficiency and sustainability at the heart of the garden’s ethos, users recycle and compost kitchen waste and teach volunteers organic and sustainable food-growing methods. Open: Saturday 11am-4pm Entrance: Green Lanes, south of Manor House junction Access: Not all areas are accessible to wheelchairs due to uneven surfaces, slopes and small paths Nearest station: Manor House Buses: 106, 141, 341 Website: www.castle-climbing.co.uk/garden WC

HK4. Gloucester Square Residents’ Gardens E2 8RS Map 3

Gloucester Square Residents’ Gardens can be found in a tranquil residential square lined with trees between Haggerston Park and Regent’s Canal, onto which it opens. Gloucester Square was built in 1987 as affordable housing on a former industrial site. Residents decided to rejuvenate the flowerbeds in 2009 after years of neglect. The garden features a small woodland garden, a central landscaped sanctuary and two flowerbeds where plants, herbs and vegetables are seamlessly planted within borders. The garden received a Gold award for Best Community Project in Hackney in Bloom (2013) and a Bronze award for Best Community Garden (2014) from the East London Gardening Society. Open: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11.30am-5pm Entrance: Cester Street, off Whiston Road Access: Level access but some uneven surfaces Nearest stations: Haggerston, Hoxton, Cambridge Heath Buses: 236, 394 Conditions: Toilet available in Haggerston Park Website: www.gloucestersquare.weebly.com

HK5. The Growing Kitchen N1 7HU Map 2

The Growing Kitchen is an award-winning resident-led community garden project, which promotes inclusivity and diversity. A Lottery grant ten years ago helped to transform a disused site in a peaceful corner of Hoxton into a beautiful shared garden where residents cook and socialise. There are micro allotments, raised herb beds, communal foraging area with wildlife pond, and covered space with clay oven and barbecue. Residents are constantly looking for new areas to cultivate and have recently created a wild orchard and flower meadow in the heart of the estate. Informal tours by allotment holders will be available. Open: Sunday 10am-5pm Entrance: Napier Grove Access: Two steps lead from main entrance into garden, but a secondary entrance on the other side offers wheelchair access; slight slope with narrow wooden decking leading to communal area Nearest station: Old Street Buses: 21, 76, 141, 271, 394

HK6. St Joseph’s Hospice Garden E8 4SA Map 3

This award-winning garden at St Joseph’s Hospice uses 100 years of gardening tradition to ensure it continues to interest visitors, patients and staff alike, with seven distinct areas to enjoy. Major building works have finished, resulting in a different shaped south end, with contrasting areas of deep shade and full sun. In the borders, traditional perennials jostle with half-hardy tropicals and annual bedding schemes provide additional colour. Features of the garden, which has recreational and contemplative appeal, include sculptures by Matt Caines and the ‘Oasis’ water feature in the front courtyard.

Open: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-5pm Entrance: Mare Street, north of Victoria Park Road Access: Some slopes Nearest stations: Bethnal Green tube (1.25 km), London Fields (0.5 km) Buses: 26, 48, 55, 106, 254, D6 Website: www.stjh.org.uk WC

Star Community Garden

HK7. St Mary’s Secret Garden E2 8EL Map 3

This community garden provides social and horticultural therapy, training and volunteering opportunities for people with physical and learning disabilities, mental health issues and long-term health conditions. St Mary’s Garden also offers gardening and outreach services, including planting and sensory workshops and housing estate planting. There are herbaceous borders, a herb and sensory area, vegetable garden, woodland with beehives, an orchard, pond, wildlife meadow and a greenhouse, all maintained by beneficiaries and volunteers. Highlights include the ‘Wish You Well’ garden, Silent Space area and Therapy Shed. The garden has received the Green Flag Community Award and a London in Bloom Outstanding rating. Open: Saturday 10am-8pm Entrance: Corner of Pearson Street and Appleby Street Access: Fully accessible Nearest station: Hoxton Buses: 26, 48, 55, 67, 149, 242, 243, 394 Website: www.stmaryssecretgarden.org.uk WC

HK2. Clissold Community Garden N16 9EX Map 2

Clissold Community Garden is a community food growing space and part of the Peter Bedford Housing Association wellbeing programme. The garden is hidden behind a row of Georgian terrace houses and lies next to a very small wood. Access to the garden, which is frequented by resident artists, food growers, bird watchers and sun-lovers, can be found between two Georgian houses on Clissold Road, connecting Albion Road with Church Street Stoke Newington. Open: Saturday 10am-4pm Entrance: 23a Clissold Road Access: Access by two sets of steps, each with a handrail; no wheelchair access to garden Nearest stations: Stoke Newington (1.5km), Manor House (1.8km) Buses: 141 & 341 to Stoke Newington Church Street, 73 & 476 to Stoke Newington Town Hall, 393 along Stoke Newington Church Street Website: www.peterbedford.org.uk WC