Dear Garden Member
Over the last few weeks we've been talking to Groundwork (www.groundwork.org.uk) whose ethos is 'Changing places, changing lives - building stronger communities by improving green space'. They've offered us a fantastic amount of ex Olympic reclaimed equipment and building materials for the Forest Gate Community Garden, which they will deliver to the site.
As part of the deal the Groundwork team have asked if we could drum up some volunteers to help with the loading in Canning Town and unloading in Forest Gate, which is where you come in!
Ideally we'd like to gather a group of 20 people so that we could have a decent sized team at either end. Basically the faster we can load and unload the more trips between sites they can do and the more equipment and materials we can have.
Some of the materials include bags of river stones and gravel and are bulky and heavy, so good gloves and solid footwear are essential. There are also lighter items, plastic sheeting and a plastic bottle greenhouse, so please help where and if you can.
We're hoping to set a date before Christmas this year. We really need you if you can make it, which is why we're trying to give you some advanced warning. We'll get back to you with a definite date and time as soon as we have one, as I know we're all chomping at the bit to get started.
Please email back to say if you, or any of your friends and family, are willing to help in principle (we know it will depend on the date/time): info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk
Many thanks
Lisa and the rest of the Steering Group
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
LATEST NEWS: We're getting closer...
It's an exciting week for the Forest Gate Community Garden team as things are finally beginning to pick up speed. Hopefully we'll all be on site soon. Can't wait. Here's a little update to keep you in the loop...
Take a look at the banner on the boundary fence (see image opposite) – things are moving on! Thanks to Cllr Ellie Robinson for chasing this through.
Discount at Compotes – have you tried their delicious croissants and fab fruit teas? 10% off if you show your Forest Gate Community Garden Membership card, can't be bad!
The Steering Group is burning the midnight oil applying for a GLA High Street Grant to be in by 1 December 2014. Only 20 will be awarded across London so fingers crossed......
Discount at Compotes – have you tried their delicious croissants and fab fruit teas? 10% off if you show your Forest Gate Community Garden Membership card, can't be bad!
The Steering Group is burning the midnight oil applying for a GLA High Street Grant to be in by 1 December 2014. Only 20 will be awarded across London so fingers crossed......
Monday, 17 November 2014
MEMBER NEWSLETTER // Forest Gate Community Garden Monthly Newsletter // Issue 1 // Nov 2014
If you're a Forest Gate Community Garden Member you should have received your first Monthly Newsletter via email last week. If you're not a Member then simply sign up via our website for just £2 lifetime Membership and you'll get regular updates too. Here's a sneaky preview for those who missed it either way...
MEMBER NEWS // New bakery in town // Compotes E7 // FGCG 10% Member discount
Have you checked out Compotes yet, the latest addition to Forest Gate's cafe scene, just opposite the Lord Lister health centre on? It's going down a storm, plus if you're a Forest Gate Community Garden Member you get 10% discount on all artisan cakes, pastries, breads, rolls, soup and, of course, compotes...
All you have to do is present your FGCG Membership card to claim your discount. It's a great place to relax and meet friends upstairs, and they are open to 8pm every day.
If you need a new Membership card please email info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk. To connect with Compotes tweet them @CompotesE7
All you have to do is present your FGCG Membership card to claim your discount. It's a great place to relax and meet friends upstairs, and they are open to 8pm every day.
If you need a new Membership card please email info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk. To connect with Compotes tweet them @CompotesE7
Monday, 10 November 2014
FEATURE // 'Nature on the Flats' // Rosemary Stephens // 3-9 November 2014
Welcome to our very first series on the Forest Gate Community Garden blog – a truly inspiring weekly wildlife diary by local artist and nature photographer Rosemary Stephens...
Thanks to Rosemary's generosity we have permission to share some of the amazing photographs she posts each day on her Twitter account 'Nature on the Flats' @RoseStephensArt.
Many of Rosemary's images are taken right on our doorstep in Forest Gate, London E7 – and especially on the wonderful green space that is Wanstead Flats. They include birds, insects, fauna and flora from wrens, robins and kestrels to spiders, moths, caterpillars and the ubiquitous squirrel.
Amazing to think that we might have some of the same fantastic wildlife in the Forest Gate Community Garden very soon.
Herewith are some images from 3-9 November 2014. To find captions including names of items visit Rosemary's Twitter feed and scroll back between the dates above.
FIND MORE INSPIRING IMAGES
Thanks to Rosemary's generosity we have permission to share some of the amazing photographs she posts each day on her Twitter account 'Nature on the Flats' @RoseStephensArt.
Many of Rosemary's images are taken right on our doorstep in Forest Gate, London E7 – and especially on the wonderful green space that is Wanstead Flats. They include birds, insects, fauna and flora from wrens, robins and kestrels to spiders, moths, caterpillars and the ubiquitous squirrel.
Amazing to think that we might have some of the same fantastic wildlife in the Forest Gate Community Garden very soon.
Herewith are some images from 3-9 November 2014. To find captions including names of items visit Rosemary's Twitter feed and scroll back between the dates above.
FIND MORE INSPIRING IMAGES
- Connect with Rosemary on Twitter @RoseStephensArt
- Visit Rosemary's website at www.rosemarystephensart.weebly.com
...
LATEST NEWS // Amazing landscaping items secured from Groundwork London // Strong volunteers required
A big thanks to Groundwork London for helping the Forest Gate Community Garden secure some amazing landscaping items for our gardening, from the former Olympic site. Very exciting progress. We can't wait to see them in situ...
We are truly grateful for this free donation, especially to Forest Gate Cllr Ellie Robinson who arranged the meeting, Peter and Colin from Groundwork London, and Lisa and Hugh from the FGCG Steering Group who went to choose all the items.
STRONG VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Groundwork London are going to deliver the items to the garden site in a lorry at a convenient date to us and them – hopefully soon – but we will need some strong volunteers at our end (136 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate E7) to help unload and place items in a safe spot.
We'll post the exact date as soon as we have a concrete arrangement. It will probably be in December or January and should be in the week and during daylight/working hours. If anybody could and would like to help with this vital task please email info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk as soon as possible so we can start to create a solid team. Mark subject: Groundwork Team
LIST / IMAGES OF OUR LOOT...
We can't wait to work these fantastic items into our design and see them fully installed in the Forest Gate Community Garden.
ABOUT GROUNDWORK LONDON
Groundwork is a national charity that works with communities across the UK supporting them to create better places, live and work in a greener, more sustainable way and to improve their economic prospects. They've been working in London for over 20 years helping to create a brighter, greener future for London and all Londoners.
They promote environmental best practice and play an active role in helping communities across London to become more sustainable, through education, training, community engagement, business support and collaborative open space improvements.
For more information see: www.groundwork.org.uk/sites/london
We are truly grateful for this free donation, especially to Forest Gate Cllr Ellie Robinson who arranged the meeting, Peter and Colin from Groundwork London, and Lisa and Hugh from the FGCG Steering Group who went to choose all the items.
STRONG VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Groundwork London are going to deliver the items to the garden site in a lorry at a convenient date to us and them – hopefully soon – but we will need some strong volunteers at our end (136 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate E7) to help unload and place items in a safe spot.
We'll post the exact date as soon as we have a concrete arrangement. It will probably be in December or January and should be in the week and during daylight/working hours. If anybody could and would like to help with this vital task please email info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk as soon as possible so we can start to create a solid team. Mark subject: Groundwork TeamLIST / IMAGES OF OUR LOOT...
- The remnants of a plastic bottle greenhouse – frames and some bottles
- Some oddments of timber
- Some lengths of trellis
- A pallet of small concrete paving slabs – red, yellow and grey
- A tonne bag of large river stones and a tonne bag of washed pebbles
- A pile of lengths of corrugated plastic
- Wooden decking squares
- Two fantastic benches that only need a little TLC
- 20sq metres of artificial turf and underlay
- The option to take the frames of a permaculture kit which would provide us with some ready-made raised beds (separate transport required as too big for the lorry)
We can't wait to work these fantastic items into our design and see them fully installed in the Forest Gate Community Garden.
ABOUT GROUNDWORK LONDON
Groundwork is a national charity that works with communities across the UK supporting them to create better places, live and work in a greener, more sustainable way and to improve their economic prospects. They've been working in London for over 20 years helping to create a brighter, greener future for London and all Londoners.
They promote environmental best practice and play an active role in helping communities across London to become more sustainable, through education, training, community engagement, business support and collaborative open space improvements.
For more information see: www.groundwork.org.uk/sites/london
Thursday, 16 October 2014
ON OUR DOORSTEP: Vote now – Grow Wild Flagship Site – Cody Wilds
Did you know that one community in England will soon receive £120,000 Grow Wild funding to create an inspiring wild flower haven for everyone to enjoy – and you can help decide who wins? Read on to find out how to vote for your Grow Wild Flagship site, especially important as one of the nominees is right on our doorstep at Cody Dock...
Grow Wild is a dynamic £10.5m mass participation programme to bring people and communities together to sow, grow and enjoy UK native wild flowers. Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Grow Wild aims to inspire people to transform unloved urban spaces, gardens, cool containers and windowsills into wildlife-friendly wild flower patches.
The project aims to reach 30 million people and including 4 million young people aged 12 to 25. We are creating four inspirational flagship sites, one each in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and 280 community projectsthat will have a tangible impact on each locality and each individual involved. Thousands of groups and individuals are also encouraged to transform unloved spaces into colourful wild flower havens with Grow Wild seed kits and packs.
The project aims to reach 30 million people and including 4 million young people aged 12 to 25. We are creating four inspirational flagship sites, one each in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and 280 community projectsthat will have a tangible impact on each locality and each individual involved. Thousands of groups and individuals are also encouraged to transform unloved spaces into colourful wild flower havens with Grow Wild seed kits and packs.
RECENT NEWS: Dr Kate Spencer – Testing for happy and healthy soil
Community gardens are often built upon urban sites which, through their previous uses may have left contaminants in the soil. We're therefore lucky to have Dr Kate Spencer on our team who, on Friday 10 October, took soil samples for analysis, to confirm that our plot is a healthy and happy one
It's amazing what a wealth of talents we have within our growing number of Members: photographers, artists, teachers, carers, architects, retirees, website designers, gardeners... and a Reader in Environmental Geochemistry at Queen Mary College, Dr Kate Spencer.
The perfect person, then, to take soil samples from the Forest Gate Community Garden site, to send off for analysis. Even luckier then that her second year students were the perfect team of people to anaylse the samples as part of their course.
Here's a sneak preview of Kate collecting her samples. Watch this space for more information and the results.
It's amazing what a wealth of talents we have within our growing number of Members: photographers, artists, teachers, carers, architects, retirees, website designers, gardeners... and a Reader in Environmental Geochemistry at Queen Mary College, Dr Kate Spencer.The perfect person, then, to take soil samples from the Forest Gate Community Garden site, to send off for analysis. Even luckier then that her second year students were the perfect team of people to anaylse the samples as part of their course.
Here's a sneak preview of Kate collecting her samples. Watch this space for more information and the results.
Friday, 10 October 2014
LATEST EVENTS: The Big Draw – Create A Woodland Gallery with Children's Gallery & The Herbarium Project, Sat 18 Oct
The Big Draw, the world's largest drawing festival is now in full swing, running from 1 October to 2 November 2014 – and Forest Gate, London E7 has two great events happening over the next two weekends. Both events are in keeping with this year's theme 'It's Our World', a celebration of our environment.
After 'Create a Swarm' on Saturday 11 October, the fun continues on Saturday 18 October with 'Create a Woodland Gallery' presented by Children's Gallery and The Herbarium Project. You can find more details on The Big Draw website here >
The idea of this event is to create an outdoor gallery using a variety of experimental approaches to drawing. Take inspiration from the earth, forest and nature and use the tree's branches as a platform to hang your drawing creations.
Use the wet clay to make your own pencil to draw with, collect insects and draw from nature, make giant tree rubbings and draw with scissors, or blow paint or ink around the page to make amazing trees that you can decorate with 'leaf glitter'.
A variety of paper and drawing materials will be available plus artists' expertise to assist with drawing techniques. This includes local artists and creatives Nicola Cunningham, Sonya Patel Ellis, Rocco Turino and Tom Ellis.
All work will be hung from the trees to celebrate the surroundings and the community involved, so come and see even if you think you don't want to draw.
To find us, head to Wanstead Flats off Dames Road – just follow the signs to 'The Woodland Gallery', located in the little copse of woods between the 'Helicopter Park' by Jubilee Pond and Sidney Road, Forest Gate E7 0ED. Fingers crossed for fine weather, although the organisers hope to continue rain or shine – just wear appropriate clothing and they'll adjust the activities to suit.
It's all happening on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 3pm, so see you there!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: CHILDREN'S GALLERY
Children's Gallery is a place for children of all ages to create and exhibit their work, founded by artist and early years teacher Nicola Cunningham. Events, gatherings and art sessions have so far been held at the Wanstead Tap in Forest Gate and continue with The Big Draw on Wanstead Flats. Look out for more events in the future.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email: nichumbug@hotmail.com
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: THE HERBARIUM PROJECT
The Herbarium Project is a platform for the creative exploration of links between nature, art, science, books and culture, created by writer, editor and visual artist Sonya Patel Ellis. The project officially launched in March 2014 with an exhibition of botanically-inspired works by Ellis at CoffeE7 in Forest Gate, London E7, including a herbarium of her garden pressed over a year (see review Time Out). Since then, Ellis sells works through local emporium Number 8 Forest Gate, has collaborated with local artist Eleanor Pearce on an event to raise funds for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, has given talks to the WI and made herbaria of various locations in the neighbourhood. When not making books for various publishers – including Nature Tales: Encounters with Britain's Wildlife – she is also involved with the Forest Gate Community Garden, creating and maintaining their website and blog. This is the first of hopefully many collaborations with Children's Gallery.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email: sonyapatelellis@gmail.com
Website: www.theherbariumproject.com
Blog: http://atlherbier.blogspot.com
Twitter: @sonyapatelellis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonyapatelellis
After 'Create a Swarm' on Saturday 11 October, the fun continues on Saturday 18 October with 'Create a Woodland Gallery' presented by Children's Gallery and The Herbarium Project. You can find more details on The Big Draw website here >The idea of this event is to create an outdoor gallery using a variety of experimental approaches to drawing. Take inspiration from the earth, forest and nature and use the tree's branches as a platform to hang your drawing creations.
Use the wet clay to make your own pencil to draw with, collect insects and draw from nature, make giant tree rubbings and draw with scissors, or blow paint or ink around the page to make amazing trees that you can decorate with 'leaf glitter'.
A variety of paper and drawing materials will be available plus artists' expertise to assist with drawing techniques. This includes local artists and creatives Nicola Cunningham, Sonya Patel Ellis, Rocco Turino and Tom Ellis.
All work will be hung from the trees to celebrate the surroundings and the community involved, so come and see even if you think you don't want to draw.
To find us, head to Wanstead Flats off Dames Road – just follow the signs to 'The Woodland Gallery', located in the little copse of woods between the 'Helicopter Park' by Jubilee Pond and Sidney Road, Forest Gate E7 0ED. Fingers crossed for fine weather, although the organisers hope to continue rain or shine – just wear appropriate clothing and they'll adjust the activities to suit.
It's all happening on Saturday 18 October between 11am and 3pm, so see you there!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: CHILDREN'S GALLERY
Children's Gallery is a place for children of all ages to create and exhibit their work, founded by artist and early years teacher Nicola Cunningham. Events, gatherings and art sessions have so far been held at the Wanstead Tap in Forest Gate and continue with The Big Draw on Wanstead Flats. Look out for more events in the future.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email: nichumbug@hotmail.com
ABOUT THE ARTISTS: THE HERBARIUM PROJECT
The Herbarium Project is a platform for the creative exploration of links between nature, art, science, books and culture, created by writer, editor and visual artist Sonya Patel Ellis. The project officially launched in March 2014 with an exhibition of botanically-inspired works by Ellis at CoffeE7 in Forest Gate, London E7, including a herbarium of her garden pressed over a year (see review Time Out). Since then, Ellis sells works through local emporium Number 8 Forest Gate, has collaborated with local artist Eleanor Pearce on an event to raise funds for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, has given talks to the WI and made herbaria of various locations in the neighbourhood. When not making books for various publishers – including Nature Tales: Encounters with Britain's Wildlife – she is also involved with the Forest Gate Community Garden, creating and maintaining their website and blog. This is the first of hopefully many collaborations with Children's Gallery.
Contact: Children's Gallery
Email: sonyapatelellis@gmail.com
Website: www.theherbariumproject.com
Blog: http://atlherbier.blogspot.com
Twitter: @sonyapatelellis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonyapatelellis
LATEST EVENTS: The Big Draw – Create A Swarm with Eleanor Pearce, Sat 11 October
The Big Draw, the world's largest drawing festival is now in full swing, running from 1 October to 2 November 2014 – and Forest Gate, London E7 has two great events happening over the next two weekends. Both events are in keeping with this year's theme 'It's Our World', a celebration of our environment.
First up is local artist Eleanor Pearce's 'Create A Swarm!' at CoffeE7 (7 Sebert Road, Forest Gate, E7 0NQ), a collaborative drawing experience, exploring the wonderful world of the bee and creating a swarm of amazing bee drawings in the process. You can find more details on The Big Draw website here >
There will be a range of source materials relating to the anatomy and life cycle of the honey bee and bumble bee to inspire you – just take a look at some of the fantastic drawings below to get your inner bee buzzing.
Eleanor will be on hand all day to help and assist at every stage, along with a team of dedicated drawing volunteers. She's also used to working with adults and children, and those who can and can't draw so don't be put off. All ages are welcome to come and draw, especially if it is something you have not tried for a while. Music and costumes are also rumoured!
Work produced will then be exhibited in and around Coffee7, No8 Forest Gate Emporium and the Forest Gate locality so participants and onlookers can share the pleasure of Forest Gate's very own drawn swarm of bees.
It's all happening on Saturday 11 October between 10am and 4pm, so see you there!
ABOUT THE ARTIST: ELEANOR PEARCE
Born in North London in 1979, Eleanor graduated from Middlesex University with first class honours in Fine art BA in 2001. She was recipient of the first base award in 2002 and has since exhibited regularly both in conventional gallery spaces and on alternative sites including Perrot's Folly, Birmingham, St Pancras Church Crypt, Crouch Hill Stationhouse Ticket Hall and Mishka Vintage, Crouch End. She works mainly in drawing, performance and installation. Eleanor is Director of Visual art at Islington Arts Factory. Her role involves leading the education department for adults and children, programming and initiating key projects within the centre. She directs the Gallery programme, curating in-house for the Metamorphose exhibition, The Salon, The Art Auction and the MakeArt exhibition. Eleanor specialises in teaching children and runs a drawing course at CoffeE7 for 7-11 year olds (current session: 11 September to 23 October 2014).
Contact: Eleanor Pearce
Email: eleanorpearcefineart@gmail.com
Website: www.eleanorpearce.co.uk
Twitter: @eleanorpearce
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eleanorpearcefineart
First up is local artist Eleanor Pearce's 'Create A Swarm!' at CoffeE7 (7 Sebert Road, Forest Gate, E7 0NQ), a collaborative drawing experience, exploring the wonderful world of the bee and creating a swarm of amazing bee drawings in the process. You can find more details on The Big Draw website here >There will be a range of source materials relating to the anatomy and life cycle of the honey bee and bumble bee to inspire you – just take a look at some of the fantastic drawings below to get your inner bee buzzing.
Eleanor will be on hand all day to help and assist at every stage, along with a team of dedicated drawing volunteers. She's also used to working with adults and children, and those who can and can't draw so don't be put off. All ages are welcome to come and draw, especially if it is something you have not tried for a while. Music and costumes are also rumoured!
Work produced will then be exhibited in and around Coffee7, No8 Forest Gate Emporium and the Forest Gate locality so participants and onlookers can share the pleasure of Forest Gate's very own drawn swarm of bees.
It's all happening on Saturday 11 October between 10am and 4pm, so see you there!
ABOUT THE ARTIST: ELEANOR PEARCE
Born in North London in 1979, Eleanor graduated from Middlesex University with first class honours in Fine art BA in 2001. She was recipient of the first base award in 2002 and has since exhibited regularly both in conventional gallery spaces and on alternative sites including Perrot's Folly, Birmingham, St Pancras Church Crypt, Crouch Hill Stationhouse Ticket Hall and Mishka Vintage, Crouch End. She works mainly in drawing, performance and installation. Eleanor is Director of Visual art at Islington Arts Factory. Her role involves leading the education department for adults and children, programming and initiating key projects within the centre. She directs the Gallery programme, curating in-house for the Metamorphose exhibition, The Salon, The Art Auction and the MakeArt exhibition. Eleanor specialises in teaching children and runs a drawing course at CoffeE7 for 7-11 year olds (current session: 11 September to 23 October 2014).
Contact: Eleanor Pearce
Email: eleanorpearcefineart@gmail.com
Website: www.eleanorpearce.co.uk
Twitter: @eleanorpearce
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eleanorpearcefineart
 |
| Eleanor Pearce hard at work over summer creating some test bees for The Big Draw's 'Create a Swarm' |
 |
| Drawings created by Eleanor Pearce from specimens donated by The Local Honey Man: www.thelocalhoneyman.co.uk |
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
GET INVOLVED: Become a Member today
Want a green space in the heart of
Forest Gate? A community garden that you can help create? Just a stone's throw
from Forest Gate station at 136 Earlham Grove. Join us...
First stop is to become a Member, which keeps you in the look about
what's going on. Only £2 lifetime Membership. You can join via the
website www.forestgate-community-garden.org.uk, via email to
info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk or join in person at CoffeE7 on the first Saturday morning of every month. We look forward to
meeting you!
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
INSIGHT // OTHER COMMUNITY GARDENS: Visit to Dorset Road Community Garden, E7
Visiting other community gardens can be really helpful in the process of creating your own. Myanah Saunders, a central figure for the Forest Gate Community Garden's Steering Group, reports back from a recent visit to the Dorset Road Community Garden in south Forest Gate
On 26 September 2014, I visited the Dorset Road Community Garden, one of several community gardens in London. This garden is one of our immediate neighbours, situated just off Katherine Road, also in Forest Gate, E7.
On 26 September 2014, I visited the Dorset Road Community Garden, one of several community gardens in London. This garden is one of our immediate neighbours, situated just off Katherine Road, also in Forest Gate, E7.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
SNAPSHOT: Member Meeting Site Visit on 27 September 2014
For those who didn't manage to make the Member Meeting or site visit on 27 September 2014 we've got a host of new images from the day, by Lloyd Jeans and Sonya Patel Ellis, below and on our website Gallery page. Those who did come along, can you spot yourself among the wild jungle of buddleia and Russian vine?
For more images, read more and scroll down, or see our website Gallery page >
For more images, read more and scroll down, or see our website Gallery page >
LATEST EVENTS: Forest Gate Community Garden Fun Palace, Saturday 4 October
Roll up, roll up for the Forest Gate Community Garden Fun Palace on Saturday 4 October between 11am and 3pm at Woodgrange Market Place, Forest Gate, E7. Featuring...
Local artist Leah Lovett's VENT: a pop-up parliament
and
The Amazing Dr Fothergill – a garden project
We'll also be recruiting new Members so bring your £2 for a bargain lifetime Membership – all monies raised go in the Forest Gate Community Garden pot.
Hope to see you there!
LATEST NEWS: Results of the design workshop on 20 August 2014
The Member Meeting on Saturday 27 September at Kaye Rowe Nursery School gave us the ideal opportunity to report back on our design workshop, held on 20 August at the Forest Gate Community Garden site, 136 Earlham Grove, London E7
For those who missed the meeting, we've put the presentation, as produced and presented by jane McCarthy and Lisa Eller of our Design and Planning Team, on our website at www.forestgate-community-garden.org.uk. See our Planning and Design page.
You can also view it below. Read, enjoy and let us know your thoughts at info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk or via Twitter or Facebook.
For those who missed the meeting, we've put the presentation, as produced and presented by jane McCarthy and Lisa Eller of our Design and Planning Team, on our website at www.forestgate-community-garden.org.uk. See our Planning and Design page.
You can also view it below. Read, enjoy and let us know your thoughts at info@forestgate-community-garden.org.uk or via Twitter or Facebook.
Monday, 29 September 2014
LATEST NEWS: Member Meeting on Saturday 27 September a great success
The Member meeting on Saturday 27 September, at Kaye Rowe Nursery School – followed by a site visit for attendees, especially those interested in construction – was a great success. We launched our new website, presented initial plans for the garden design, and made a grand total of £111.38. A fantastic sum for the Forest Gate Community Garden fund
 |
| The Forest Gate Community Garden's youngest fans have great fun investigating the wildlife at our site visit on Saturday 27 September and posing against the blue hoardings that currently mark out the 'front door' at 136 Earlham Grove |
Saturday, 27 September 2014
LATEST NEWS: A design is taking shape
Dying to know what the final garden
design might look like? Lisa Eller, from the Forest Gate Community Garden
Planning and Design Team, explains what's happening so far, following a
fantastic Member planning visit to the site in August...
The Forest Gate Community Garden (FGCG)
Steering Group held a meeting of the planning group on 20 August 2014. The
numbers were good and attendees ranged in age, ability, skill sets and
background. Fellow FGCG Planing and Design Team
Member Jane McCarthy, who chaired the meeting, went through the aims of
the garden and presented a site plan and three possible designs as a starting
point for discussion. See images below.
Friday, 12 September 2014
FEATURE: The Herbarium Project at the FGCG // Into the Press
A sec on post by Sonya Patel Ellis from The Herbarium Project offers a chance to see flowers from the Forest Gate Community Garden going into the press. Flower and plant specimens include rose, buddleia, Russian vine, bramble, ivy, birch leaf and thistle. Looking forward to seeing how they press and starting the official Forest Gate Community Garden Herbarium – a great way to share news on the existing and developing wildlife in our garden.
For more details on The Herbarium Project visit www.theherbariumproject.com or see Ellis' blog At L'Herbier. You can also follow and view updates on Twitter @sonyapatelellis and on a dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theherbariumproject
FEATURE: The Herbarium Project at the FGCG // On the concrete
Sonya Patel Ellis of The Herbarium Project visited the site on 12 September to do her first pressing of plants and flowers already in the garden. A great way to report back on what's already growing there. Here's her first report...
A gorgeous sunny afternoon, pressing the wildness that is the Forest Gate Community Garden at 136 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7. The buddleia jungle has grown even higher since we were last there on the 9 July 2014.
A gorgeous sunny afternoon, pressing the wildness that is the Forest Gate Community Garden at 136 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7. The buddleia jungle has grown even higher since we were last there on the 9 July 2014.
Searching round for specimens for a new Herbarium Project herbarium collection, we stumbled across the most beautiful lilac-coloured, heavily-scented rose, a birch tree sapling, and a hellebores-type plant that looked as though it could have been cultivated in a former garden on the plot. Looking forward to finding out what it is – one of the best bits about creating a herbarium.
Also loved laying the specimens out on a concrete foundation, where an old Victorian villa once stood. Standing in this spot, in the middle of the plot, you really do get a sense of how the space was once a habitable house with a garden at front and back. There's definitely something magical about this location, it's historic past, wild present, and the sense of what it might become in the future.
Also loved laying the specimens out on a concrete foundation, where an old Victorian villa once stood. Standing in this spot, in the middle of the plot, you really do get a sense of how the space was once a habitable house with a garden at front and back. There's definitely something magical about this location, it's historic past, wild present, and the sense of what it might become in the future.
Watch this space for further developments in the Forest Gate Community Garden Herbarium.
For more details on The Herbarium Project visit www.theherbariumproject.com or see Ellis' blog At L'Herbier. You can also follow and view updates on Twitter @sonyapatelellis and on a dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theherbariumproject
For more details on The Herbarium Project visit www.theherbariumproject.com or see Ellis' blog At L'Herbier. You can also follow and view updates on Twitter @sonyapatelellis and on a dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theherbariumproject
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
SNAPSHOT: First site visit – It's a jungle out there
First site visit to the Forest Gate Community Garden and it's a jungle out there. Loads of buddleia, blue hoardings and fly-tipping, not to mention a TV and beer bottles a plenty but somehow already has an overgrown charm...
The site is so beautifully wild and overgrown that the butterflies, foxes and creepy-crawlies must already be loving it. We also spotted blackberries, an oak sapling, elderberry and various wildflowers. There's lots of work to do, but it will be worth it. The concrete you can see is the remains of the old doctor's villa that once stood there. As such the plot is pretty much where the house stood plus front and back gardens. It's pretty big, certainly large enough to accommodate everyone's needs and visions for the garden. Thanks to London Borough of Newham (LBN) for the preview – can't wait to dig in.
For more images, see our website Gallery page.
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
SNAPSHOT: A great day out at our Pop Up Garden
In keeping with the spirit of the Tour de France, we set up a mini 'Pop-Up' garden in Woodgrange Marketplace on 7 July 2014, which was a huge success and great fun to boot. A great tribute to everyone who helped organise the event, took park or got swept away with the excitement of the day.
Thanks to a small grant from London Borough of Newham (LBN), we gave out plants for fostering, spray-painted bicycle wheels, offered advice from our 'Plant Doctor', signed up 22 new paid-up Members, made up containers with plants donated by Homebase and talked to anyone who would listen about plans and visions for the Forest Gate Community Garden.
For more images from the day, see our website Gallery page.
Thanks to a small grant from London Borough of Newham (LBN), we gave out plants for fostering, spray-painted bicycle wheels, offered advice from our 'Plant Doctor', signed up 22 new paid-up Members, made up containers with plants donated by Homebase and talked to anyone who would listen about plans and visions for the Forest Gate Community Garden.
For more images from the day, see our website Gallery page.
Sunday, 22 June 2014
SNAPSHOT: Recruiting new members at the Forest Gate Festival
Did you see us at the Forest Gate Festival this year on 21 June 2014? We had a great day, manning our stall and chatting with members of the public who came to see what we were up to?
The sun shone (it was the summer solstice after all), everyone was in a party mood, children planted sunflower seeds, we sold loads of plants donated by members and 44 new people joined the Forest Gate Community Garden as paid up Members. Looking forward to more brilliant events raising awareness and recruiting more people to get involved.
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