This category will be judged by a panel of Incredible Edible Lambeth Directors and a guest judge
Nominated by Georgina Schueller
As we have been encouraged to take charge of our community garden, some of our gardeners have become emboldened to explore it as a space to create even more visual experiences, adding to the already vibrant garden. Branches from fallen or cut down small trees, (unfortunately necessary because the roots were restricting other plant growth and creating very dry raised beds), are gradually being turned silver, and being decorated with hangings made last year, alongside other painted mini-sculptures. Frames for plants to climb, are being topped with colourful funny little heads. One tree stump has been adorned with a colourful dragon head, and another will soon have a chicken wire shape made for climbing ivy to cover – there are so many works in progress. This year, for the first time, after putting a spiral pattern of irrigation hose in two beds, it has been used as a planting scheme. Tables and chairs found discarded on streets, have been given a new lease of life. Chairs have been repainted, and tables tops covered in tiles, or bottle tops. One metal framed bench remains altered from last year; a discarded metal headboard has been attached to the back of the bench, and fake grass recycled to make a more comfortable warmer seat. Recycling is close to our hearts, and hopefully, what we are doing in our garden, sends out a powerful message of how we can come together to create something wonderful and unique, whilst also considering the climate emergency. Everyone who visits our garden, and those living around it, love what we’re doing. Hopefully, as restrictions ease, more people will be able to join in with us.
Nominated by Anna Bromwich
I would like to nominate a project I have been working on, co-organised by Lambeth organisations San Mei Gallery and CHIPS. The project, Herbarium, was a four-part educational experience for young people aged 12-16 involved with the peacemaking organisation CHIPS (Chrsitain International Peace Service). CHIPS’ aims are to tackle the root causes of youth violence with youth work and mentoring, and the young people involved in this project are drawn from the charity’s Angell Town youth group or involved in a mentoring programme at Lilian Bayliss School. The project took at it’s departure point the rainforest-inspired exhibition at San Mei Gallery, The Herbarium’s Shadow by artist Matthew Beach, and the two central parts of the project saw the young people construct and plant a bamboo pumpkin tunnel on Angell Town Estate, around which they planted gourds, pumpkins tomatoes and flowers. From the tips of the structure were hung flags in various African fabrics bought in Brixton market and made by the young people on site. These parts of the project were led by two Lambeth residents from the sustainable architecture practice Cullinan Studios and the gardeners from Myatt’s Field Park. This project has not only provided an opportunity for young people to learn community growing skills and exposed them to new professions in sustainable fields but as an outcome has created space for them to build something for their community. The bed the pumpkin tunnel is situated on, very kindly lent to the project by the Angell Town Growing Project, is situated in the central thoroughfare between Angell Town and Loughborough estates, and is something they have made and are proud of. As the bottle gourds and climbing plants grow around the structure they will be able to see that achievement grow before harvesting the gourds and tomatoes for their families. Young people involved in this project have told us that it “made me feel more aware about nature”, “was quite calming & adventurous.” and that “It’s good and it teaches me a lot of successful things”. We are unsure of which category this project fits into and so have submitted it to two. In regards to Category 3, we believe that the educational value of this project is an integral aspect of it despite neither CHIPS nor San Mei Gallery’s learning programme classifying as a school. We also believe that the pumpkin tunnel, with its flags and bottle gourds is an imaginative addition to Angell Town’s Growing Project which we hope they will want to keep past the lifetime of this project. Should we win this competition the young people would like to donate the money to the Angell Town Growers for a new hose to replace their current one which has seen better days.
Nominated by Christine Makhlouf
The area that I have chosen to put through for this competition is on Cressingham Gardens Estate SW2 this is an area between the walkway space on Scarlette Manorway that I had been partially managing for some years. You will see also a planter that I applied to the council for after they removed a tree. I am a keen gardener and try hard to help the environment. During lockdown I suggested to 2 of my neighbours that we could (whilst keeping suitably distanced from each other) make this space into an environmentally natural/nature area. This would be beneficial to the birds, bees, butterflies, dragonflies and all other creatures. as well as beautiful for those living on this walkway and to those passing whilst walking through the estate or walking round Brockwell park, which is adjacent to the estate. We have tried to include as many flowers that are benefical to bees with open flowers and wild flowers to make this not only look bright and cheerful but look beautiful as well as being environmentally friendly. This took us quite a while as it was necessary to prune some overgrown bushes, remove lots of stones and weeds. We then with the help of the local resident association giving us a small budget for plants etc and with cuttings from our gardens and personal purchasing of seeds we set about replanting the area. This year it all came to fruition, with a wide variety of plants growing and making the area look very natural. We have already noticed the amount of bees, we are attracting. We also added a small pond the hopefully attract insects and we see lots of water boatmen. With the addition of a bird feed we also have noticed Dunnock, Finches as well as parrots and Jays. As we are in an area with many toads, hopefully they are also benefitting.
Nominated by Marjorie Landels.
This front garden is on kennington road and is such a lovely garden, with a low wall surrounding in passerby can look in and admire the work done.
Nominated by Victoria Sherwin
A group of six people have planted up five concrete planters in a disused and ugly space on Lothian Road between two blocks of flats. We used plug plants from Myatt’s Fields Park greenhouse, and are growing everything from tomatoes and chillies to pumpkins and courgettes. The project has been supported by other local residents, for example Alicia is watering every other day. Neighbours have met for the first time and we hold a planting/harvesting event at 11am on the first Saturday of each month. We also used grow bags placed on the concrete slabs to grow tomatoes and courgettes. It goes to show that you can grow so much in even the smallest space, and it will bring people together.