Support GardenSE8, a new community garden for everyone

WISE16 met with the team from the GardenSE8 to talk about their campaign to transform an abandoned strip of land along Lower Road into a community garden where everyone is welcome. They are raising money on the crowdfunding platform Spacehive with a current pledge of £23,555 of which they received 85% of total money pledged.

Thank you for meeting us to to talk about this exciting project. First of all, what are GardenSE8?

We’re a non-for-profit association of local residents who got together to develop and manage the new garden. Since November 2020 we’ve been clearing years of fly-tipping and brambles and transforming this currently hazardous space into an asset for the local community.

Where exactly is the site located?

The garden is located in a privately owned strip of land in Lower Road at the junction with Croft Street and visible from the main road.

We finally met to talk about this exciting project. First of all, what are GardenSE8?

Where exactly is the site located?

The garden is located in a privately owned strip of land in Lower Road at the junction with Croft Street and visible from the main road.

The land is privately owned, what do they legal owners think of the project?

The land has been abandoned ever since Melville Court was developed in 1980s. The owner of the land immediately fell in love with our proposal and have been fully supportive. We are grateful to PNK Family Trust.

How confident do you feel to achieve 100% of your Spacehive crowdfunding target?

Our pledge is £23,555 and we’ve raised more than 88% so far thanks to of Southwark Council, Veolia, local businesses like Alex & Matteo, Decathlon or the Pear Tree, and of course the generosity of our local community!

We still have to raise about £2,600 before the deadline of May 11^th, 2021 and to that end we have organised an Active Weekend event on the early May bank holiday, with more than £150 in prizes, including house plants!

What would the money help you with?

Southwark Council has contributed with £18,000 for capital work on the land. Everything else will go towards the running costs of the garden, including trees, plants, benches, a pond, running water and full public liability insurance.

Will the new garden be open to everyone?

Yes, definitely. This is a project for and by the local community and open to everyone. Though we are in SE8, the location is also part of the Surrey Docks, just a 5-minute walk from Greenland Dock.

What will be the main benefits of this space?

Our vision is to create a safe outdoor space to connect with nature, meet other members of the local community, and a source healthy food. Above all, green spaces have many benefits for our wellbeing.

When do you expect to have it completed and open to the public?

We aim to be ready to open in early summer 2021, but there is lots to do.

Finally, why should people support your crowdfunding campaign The Garden SE8?

We feel there is an incredible support for more green spaces in this part of London and the community has always been very supportive of projects such as this one. Above all, we want to deliver a green space people feel proud of and are happy to use.