The New Community Garden Space – Volunteer Day
Hi everyone!
As many of you know, we’ve been on quite the journey over the years. We really wanted to create a special space which was private — a place that isn’t limited to back gardens or the local park, but somewhere where we could invite more people, open up the waiting list and share what we do with more and more of you. We envisioned a space where we could gather with some shelter in winter, grow our own fruit, veg, flowers, and herbs, have campfires, and even do some bushcrafting.
After searching high and low, we were allocated a space by the council. It might not be completely private since it’s surrounded by other allotments and we can’t have fires there (such a shame!), but it’s still ours to make something wonderful.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing; it took two years from our first meeting to get here due to various challenges along the way. But now that we’ve reached this stage, we’re buzzing with excitement about rolling up our sleeves and getting started!
The new space is currently overrun with brambles—previous attempts at clearing it didn’t quite work out because there are loads of microplastics buried in the soil alongside those thick roots. What was meant to be a community orchard will now be transformed by all of us at Natural Gardeners. We have so much planned!
Volunteer Day
On Sunday 23rd March 2025 will be our very first volunteer day at this new space! We know the timing isn’t perfect for everyone; some can come at 10 am while others prefer 11 am. No matter when you arrive, we’re so grateful for all the support as we join forces to turn this neglected land into vibrant community growing spaces.
We’re starting from scratch here which feels daunting but also thrilling! Most of our group prefers working hard quietly behind the scenes rather than being in charge or taking centre stage. However, with fresh faces joining us soon, some of us will need to step up despite any nerves—we appreciate your understanding if things don’t go perfectly! Our main goal is simply enjoying gardening together—getting our hands dirty (or paint-covered during journaling!) while pottering around happily.
We hope this new space inspires both returning members and newcomers alike to take on leadership roles or give things a try—it’s all about having fun while learning!
Our website is getting an update from within our group (this is part of what we teach in digital classes about staying productive online and staying away from the consumerist, anxiety-inducing side of social media), so keep an eye out for updates on sessions and news about our community garden project.
This won’t just be about growing food or flowers; it’ll also serve as a lovely retreat where you can unwind—an ideal spot for journaling sessions too—or enjoy cooking together making teas or exploring bushcraft activities among other events we’ve always enjoyed hosting.
Looking forward to seeing many of you on Sunday! If not then, hopefully soon at another session. Thank you all so much for your unwavering support!
A massive shout out goes out to Greg from OrganicLea—you’re doing incredible work here in Waltham Forest—and big thanks also go to Waltham Forest Council for helping us get everything sorted out as we prepare this wonderful space for everyone!
Happy Gardening!
Natural Gardeners
Community Group
Waltham Forest, London
