Blooming Lambeth
In summer 2017, IEL’s judges and writer/photographer Elaine Kramer visited gardens nominated by gardeners, friends and neighbours. Lambeth’s Mayor, Cllr Marcia Cameron, presented 18 of the borough’s best gardens and gardening communities with awards in a ceremony at the recently-reopened Museum of Garden History. Every garden won £100 to invest in growing better next year.
Word from the Council
Cllr Marcia Cameron, the Mayor of Lambeth, said:
“Sometimes as a Councillor you hear bad things about Lambeth – but I know so much to be proud of: the busy-ness of Waterloo Station, open-air swimming at the Lido, a working windmill, the Black Cultural Archives. Here we are at the world’s first garden museum – and it’s in Lambeth.
“And something we can be particularly proud of is this – so many community activists growing food, growing communities, all doing something to help Lambeth be a better place.”
Oasis Children’s Venture
Oasis Children’s Venture is a local charity that runs unique facilities for children and young people in Stockwell. Oasis is about play, freely chosen activities that are challenging and fun.
Wild fruit
The Cycle Adventure Playground is now developing a foraging garden to encourage children to pick an apple or pear from a tree as they play. A mountain bike track through wild woods includes the new Jurassic garden surrounded by borders of wild fruits and a newly planted Japanese Yew Plum, an evergreen shrub that produces edible plums. There’s also Berry Alley and Mulberry Hill – one of the most popular edible features. Shipping containers are bedecked with grape vines and as Oasis playworker Sandi Heywood says, “the children are learning the hard way that fruit needs to ripen before you pick it.”
For more information
- Food growing is getting bigger and bigger on Lambeth estates. It brings communities and generations together and inspires healthy eating. A trained Community Gardener from Urban Growth will help get your project up and running. You’ll have opportunities to get involved in cooking (or cookery lessons) and other food workshops. Please contact gettinginvolved@lambeth.gov.uk
- Incredible Edible Lambeth (IEL) is a network of food growers and activists working to improve our communities. We exist to re-localise the food system in Lambeth so that it nurtures us and strengthens our communities. See a map of what’s growing where and read more about our campaigns on our news pages.
- For more about OASIS contact sandy.haywoode@googlemail.com or read their ‘about us pages’.
- An exhibition of Blooming Lambeth photos will be on at the Garden Museum until 28 January. See their ‘events’ pages for more details.
Thank you to photographer Elaine Kramer for the words and pictures on the ‘Blooming Lambeth’ pages.
