There are 5 Action for Local Food Demonstrator Sites
where you can see urban growing in action
- and get involved by volunteering
1. The Story Garden
Run by Global Generation since 2019, this is a 1.1 acre urban garden nestled behind St Pancras and the British Library.
We’ve been focusing on increasing our growing space and water harvesting capacity, improving our composting systems and managing soils for better water retention and productivity.
To volunteer here, contact generate@globalgeneration.org.uk
2. Octopus Community Plant Nursery
In late 2018 Octopus took over a derelict sports pitch on Tufnell Park Estate, and with the local people transformed it into a community growing space.
The site acts as the Octopus Learning Hub drawing people together from across Islington, providing plants for use in green space improvements and producing food for Islington’s Community Food Hubs.
Contact info@octopuscommunities.org.uk to find out about volunteering at the Plant Nursery.
3. Highbury Quadrant Community Gardens
Set up in January 2020 as a partnership project by Octopus, Elizabeth House Community Centre and Islington Council it has transformed three underused and unloved green spaces on Highbury Quadrant Estate, turning them into climate resilient gardens.
Designed with improved biodiversity and access to nature opportunities in mind, the gardens are looked after by local people on permaculture principals. To volunteer at The Meadow and Wildlife Community Nature Gardens contact info@octopuscommunities.org.uk
4. Brickworks Rooftop Garden
The Rooftop Kitchen Garden and Living Learning Green Spaces was set up in November 2020 by Octopus in partnership with Brickworks Community Centre to create a model kitchen garden in a difficult unused urban space.
As well as looking at how to maximise growing capacity, incorporate water-harvesting and make a green space in a sea of urban concrete, it’s also a place to for local people to learn the value of growing fresh food for themselves and for the environment.
Contact info@octopuscommunities.org.uk to volunteer at the Rooftop Garden.
5. Caledonian Park
In 2014 Octopus took over two 'garden squares ' in 'Cally Park' and started the Bloomin' Gardeners group - a gardening project mainly for over 55's that has created a pollinator garden and a bird/wildlife garden.
As well as Cally Park being a rich source of established fruit and nut trees, with projects such as Herbs for All run in partnership with Friends of Caledonian Park we are together developing the potential for it to be designated Islington’s first Edible Park.
T
o volunteer with Octopus at Cally Park contact info@octopuscommunities.org.uk