In our location on the edge of the City of London we're lucky enough to have several green spaces. We're committed to providing local residents with much-needed greenery and flowers, teach young and old alike about the health benefits of gardening and provide food for our community cookery classes at Central Street Cookery School. We have a thriving Edible Yard growing area at the back of the Centre, a community roof terrace on the first floor and a small woodland courtyard tucked away at the side of the Centre. All areas are carefully planned and nurtured to maximise their growing potential throughout the year.    

Our community gardens continue to win awards. In 2019 we won:

• Gold Award in the Islington in Bloom Competition
• Gold Award for London in Bloom
• ‘Outstanding’ in Britain in Bloom – It’s Your Neighbourhood 

Click here to see our article in the Islington Tribune.

Edible Yard

Over the past few years the Edible Yard has been transformed into a multi-purpose area at the back of our Centre that is the focus for several of our gardening groups and workshops. It features large raised beds with more than a hundred edible plants, herbs, flowers and fruit, all grown organically. All produce goes to our volunteer gardeners, service users or for use in our regular community cooking classes at Central Street Cookery School.

Also within the Edible Yard is a large Greenhouse for workshops and gardening sessions. There is also a hen house for our five happy hens, a composting area, a wormery, a wildlife patch and a pizza oven. And plans for more!

Our Greenhouse allows gardening sessions in the Edible Yard to continue throughout the year, and can be heated in the colder months. This is essential for maintaining the Edible Yard throughout the growing season - there is still plenty to do in the winter! The Greenhouse has cushioned sofas and a large table, and houses potted succulents and cactus and other plants that benefit from indoor heat like citrus trees, scented geraniums and a bougainvillea.

We hosted several supper clubs inside the greenhouse over the summer months and it provides a peaceful and relaxing environment for events and activities.  

Community Terrace

Our community terrace is a little green oasis above bustling Central Street, with a potted plant display that is carefully planned to make the most of the sunny conditions and changing seasons. Ornamental flowering plants, shrubs, climbers and even a fig tree provide a colourful and scented background for people sitting outside or having a drink or snack on the Central Street Café tables. The gardeners propagate and use cuttings for most of the pots, and the terrace shows what can be achieved in a small space. With a bug hotel, insect habitat and small pond it attracts a variety of insects.

St Luke’s Woodland Courtyard

A narrow shady strip of land at the side of St Luke's Garden Room has been transformed into a garden for shade-loving bulbs, perennials, shrubs and climbers that thrive on the dense canopy of tall trees. It's become a perfect habitat for bugs and birds, enhancing the biodiversity of our urban Centre and providing a peaceful area with picnic tables for people using the Garden Room.