Get involved in Streatham's new community garden

New community garden gets the go-ahead

Residents meet Network Rail

Land next to the railway between Gleneldon Road and Wellfield Rd that has lain derelict for more than a decade is to be turned into a community garden, thanks to the determination of local residents.

A group of local people have got the go-ahead to lease the land from Network Rail and will form a trust to manage the land for the community.

Site that has been a long time vacant

They plan to transform what is currently a windswept eyesore that attracts fly-tipping into a beautiful oasis, growing organic fruit and vegatables, and encouraging participation from local schools, youth groups and the wider community.

Initially Network Rail had earmarked the land for commercial development, but negotations over the last two years have paid off. 

Streatham Community Garden BBQ and harvesting workshop - 4th and 18th August

There has been lots going on at the Streatham Common Community Garden. Over 250 visitors came on the Rookery Centenary weekend including many families and lots of people who had never been to the garden before, and the official opening of the Heritage Fruit Garden last Tuesday was also well-attended

There are two more events coming up:

Annual Summer BBQ, Sunday 4 August, 12-4pm

The community will be taking it easy in the garden this Sunday and cooking up a feast. Local people are invited to come along, bring your friends and food to share.

Harvesting Workshop for Families, Sunday 18 August, 10.30am-12pm

The community garden will be hosting a Summer Harvesting Workshop as part of Streatham Food Festival. This will be a chance for families to discover what's ready in the garden at the peak of Summer and how long it's taken to grow, learn how to recognise when a crop is ready, and have a go at harvesting.

A local chef will be creating a seasonal dish using the produce in the Demonstration Tent on Streatham Green on Sunday from 3-4pm so if you can't make the workshop you can go along to taste the harvest and get some ideas to try at home. (Workshop places are limited so email Charlotte at streathamcommunitygarden (at) gmail.com to reserve your place).

Streatham Common Community Garden Spring activities

Streatham Common Community Garden has a number of spring workshops and activities coming up.

Edible hedge workshop - noon this Sunday 10th March

The community garden is all set to put in a new 'edible' hedge in the woodland garden area at the bottom of the site featuring hazel, blackthorn, elder and more. As part of this, there will be a free workshop this Sunday 10 March, 12-4pm on hedge planting, including going through different species that make a good hedge, encourage wildlife and yield crops, plus the tools and techniques for effective planting.

Fruit growing workshops, Sun 17 & 24 March

The top section of the site is being turned into a heritage fruit garden with apples, pears, figs and more (thanks to funding from Streatham Action's Active Streatham OLF Project). The area has now been cleared and fruit trees delivered, so planting is set to begin on Sun 17 March in the first of two workshops led by fruit expert Paul Richens:

- 10am-3pm, 17 March - introduction to fruit growing, setting up posts and wire frameworks for cordons, fans and espaliers

- 10am-3pm, 24 March - introduction to fruit growing, successful planting and siting of fruit trees and bushes, attaching to supports

There are a few places left for each workshop, available on a first-come, first-served. To register, email streathamcommunitygarden (at) gmail.com with your name, number and email, saying which workshop you want to attend. Refreshments and lunch are being provided. Workshops are free but donations are appreciated.


Big seed sowing session - Sun 7 Apr

Streatham Common Kite Day has been postponed until the summer due to the Common being so wet.  Instead of getting involved in Kite Day on 7 April, there will be a big seed sowing session. All are welcome, and participants are invited to bring along budding young gardeners and any spare seeds, especially unusual and heritage varieties.

Community gardening - every Sun, 12-4pm (except Easter)

From now until winter there will be community gardening every Sunday 12-4pm (except Easter Sunday). There is always a range of jobs to suit all - from digging to sowing to making tea. 

You can find the Community Garden through the door in the wall at the bottom of the Rookery. There are tools and gloves, but if you can bring your own (especially gloves), please do. Wear sturdy footwear and clothes suitable for gardening and weather-appropriate. Kids are welcome, as long as they're closely supervised. Sign in on arrival. All abilities welcome!

Centenary of the Streatham Common Rookery - public meeting Thurs 17th January

In July 2013, the Rookery Garden at the top of Streatham Hill (on Streatham Common) will be 100 years old.

The Friends of Streatham Common and the Streatham Community Garden are working with Lambeth Council to celebrate the anniversary and are inviting local people to be involved.

It follows the petition, now signed by almost 600 local people, to restore the Rookery after years of underinvestment. The petition also calls for the Rookery to be maintained permanently at a standard that befits its Grade II listed status and obtain Green Flag status to help protect it for the longer term.

The Friends of Streatham Common has been working with the council to put together a plan to restore the Rookery, raise its profile within the council, and look for external funding and help where appropriate.

Local people are being invited to come and hear about the plans at a public meeting in the school hall at Immanuel and St Andrew School starting at 6.30pm (for 7.00pm) next Thursday 17th January. They are also being asked to consider how they can be involved.

You can just turm up, or if you want to get more information contact friendsofstreathamcommon (at) gmail.com or visit the website.

Streatham Common Community Garden is one year old!

Streatham Community Garden is one year old, and all volunteers and helpers are being invited to a community BBQ this Sunday 16 September (12-4pm).

As might be expected, plans are afoot about how some of the harvest can be turned into tasty cooked food, but attenders are also being encouraged to bring along a contribution - especially if its home-grown - and something to drink.

Streatham Community Garden can be found through the door in the wall at the bottom of the Rookery. People will be gathering from around 10.30am for those who want to turn up early to help with odd jobs and preparations for the celebration.

In the meantime Streatham Common Community Garden continues to be open for community gardening every Sunday 12-4pm, and will continue to be until the weather turns bad!

There are a few more events and activities planned for the coming weeks:

12pm, Sunday 30 Sept - soil workshop by Groundwork London: covering soil testing, contamination, and growing on contaminated soil using raised beds

1pm, Sunday 21 Oct - building bee and bug boxes: a great one for families, and to help give pollinating insects somewhere to keep cosy over the winter months!

If you have expertise you can share with others at the garden, or ideas for activities, you can email streathamcommunitygarden (at) gmail.com, visit the Facebook page or Tweet.

Water buts and self-watering demo at Streatham Community Garden

Streatham Community Garden (located next to the Rookery at the top of Streatham Common) is holding a demo of self watering containers and water buts this Sunday, 29th July.

The demonstration starts at 1pm - a useful guide for hot and dry periods, and if you're going on holiday. Plus they'll be setting up our water butts (and showing you how) with help from Iain Boulton from Lambeth Council. You can also get tips on what you can plant now. If you can, those coming are also asked to bring: plastic bottles; a shallow, watertight tray; an old towel/tea-towel; small bag of sand.

Streatham Community Garden is open for community gardening every Sunday 12-4pm until the end of August.

With the new hot weather, they are also in real need of more helpers to assist with weeding, watering, planting out, and harvesting so do go along. You can turn up anytime between 12-4pm, and do as much or as little as you fancy.

You'll find them through the door in the wall at the bottom of the Rookery. You can drop by any time 12-4pm any Sunday. They have tools and gardening gloves, but if you can bring your own (especially gloves), please do in case they run short. Wear sturdy footwear and clothes that are suitable for gardening and weather-appropriate. Kids are welcome.

Streatham Common Community Garden

Food growing projects are something that we are trying to promote in Streatham, as the local area has fallen behind other parts of the borough. You can can see how Lambeth is doing in this food growing map here.

However Streatham Common Community Garden is now open every from Sunday 12-4. All are welcome to come along and lend a hand.

The garden is based in the historic walled garden next to the Rookery, Streatham Common.

Local residents are invited to join and help in whatever way they can. This could be by volunteering to help clear the site and plant and harvest crops, coming along to community meetings about the project, representing the group at local events, or benefiting from training and education projects which are being set up.

You can register your interest on the website. You'll get email updates to tell you what's happening and how you can get involved. You can also join the Facebook group.

Find our more at: http://groupspaces.com/StreathamCommonCommunityGarden/