London is full of calm green spaces to relax and unwind in, if you know where to look for them. Take a stroll around the Culpeper Community Garden in Islington, says Julia Rebaudo

Both a city park and environmental community project, Culpeper Community Garden is managed by and for local people, and it's just five minutes from Angel tube. Making for a lovely afternoon walk, you can wind your way around the garden’s ponds, rose pergolas, ornamental beds, vegetable plots and wildlife area.

Named after 17th century apothecary and herbalist Nicholas Culpeper who published his works in Islington, the garden was started as a joint project between the Free School on White Lion Street (a local alternative school for excluded children) and Penton Primary School, which was just next to the garden, until its closure in 2002. The aim was to give the children somewhere they could learn to grow plants and vegetables. In 1982 the project was given a small grant by Islington Council and slowly the derelict site was transformed.

The garden is organic and home to a rich variety of plants. There are shrubs, trees, herbaceous perennials, herbs and seasonal vegetables grown in the 50 plots. The different habitats support wildlife areas with many native species – from a large frog population to insects, butterflies and birds.

Although part-time workers are employed to help maintain the garden, the bulk of the work is done by local volunteers and there’s a big focus on children. Eight plots are set aside for local children and an art project is held each summer with a summer party to celebrate the kids’ work. A big pull for kids is all the frogs and tadpoles in the springtime. School visits are welcomed and the garden is great for all sorts of school projects – from science, art and creative writing to recycling and community issues.

Sustainability is encouraged by composting garden and kitchen waste on site, collecting manure from local City Farms and by selling plants raised in the garden.

If you want to get involved with the garden you can:

  • Become a member for £10 a year. You’ll get a newsletter, keys to the garden and use of the tea hut

  • Attend monthly workdays held on the second Sunday of every month, 11am-2pm. No gardening experience needed, just turn up!

  • Volunteer to help maintan the garden

  • Apply for a plot for £12 a year

  • Go to the garden’s social and fundraising events. Information on the website

Culpeper Community Garden
1 Cloudesley Road
Islington
London N1 0EG
020 7833 3951
www.culpeper.org.uk
info@culpeper.org.uk