Project Update November 2024
The improved St John’s Garden is now officially open again! Take your time to enjoy the changes, including the new planting and pond. We hope the garden continues to be a place for you to relax, socialise, eat lunch, and be closer to nature and you continue to enjoy this most valuable space for years to come. For ongoing information about gardening and other activities you can keep in touch with the Friends of St Johns Garden.
Work completed to date includes:
- Resin surfacing installed
- Additional pavers installed
- Bench refurbishment complete
- Noticeboard installed
- York stone paver used to extend threshold to doorway to the adjacent dwelling
- Planting 30% complete
- Other plants set out
Environmental charity Groundwork has teamed up with Islington Council, the Friends of St John’s Garden and the Central District Alliance to design and deliver improvements to enhance St John’s Garden for those who live, work or visit the area.
We are keen to retain the Garden’s unique character and ‘woodland feel’, building on its rich history & heritage and bringing in more biodiversity. Our aim is not to change the existing layout and pathways but introduce enhancements to make the garden look and feel the best it can be for all to enjoy.
What’s planned?
Groundwork’s design team is busy developing initial design ideas based on results of engagement previously carried out with residents, and businesses as well as input from local experts.
Features will include:
- Improve the Garden to offer an attractive, colourful and biodiverse space for the benefit of people and wildlife alike
- Enhance the woodland settings and create a rich sensory experience, with the sights, sounds and aromas of nature
- Create new habits and improve its nature conservation value: protect and enhance existing trees, refresh the planting scheme, plan species for year-round pollinators and wildlife food sources, species-rich grass and wildflower mixes
- Eco features, such as bird boxes and bug hotels
- Ensure there is space for community activity and social interaction
- Signage and interpretation boards
How you can get involved?
We’d love to hear from as many people as possible to ensure the space meets your needs and priorities. We will be holding informal drop-in events in the garden so feel free to join- all are welcome, tools are provided and no experience is needed.
When will improvements be carried out?
First phase improvements, prior to the initial design ideas, will be carried out this summer, this will include:
- Rustic hoop borders
- Improving the soil for future planting
- Revamping the metal and wooden benches
- And more coming up, including a new community board, new compost bins and a community tool shed!
Later this summer we will be showing you an outline design for you to feedback on. Check back regularly for updates & keep an eye out for posters.
Once we receive your feedback, we will be finalising the design and share this with you in the autumn. We will then develop the detailed design and the tender package. We anticipate the works will be completed in early spring 2024. We will keep you updated.
Click here for the Latest Improvements
Latest Updates
- Please be aware that the improvement works to St John’s Garden will be taking place from 7th October 2024. The works are expected to take approximately 4 weeks. The garden will be shut for the duration of the works. We are sorry for the inconvenience during this time but we hope you will enjoy the improvements once the garden is back open.
- There will be community bulb planting at the start of November, the exact time and date will be posted soon.
Upcoming Volunteering session(s):
Saturday 21st September, 10- 12 pm – Volunteering gardening session.
If you’d like to have a chat about the project, feel free to reach out to Harjinder at Harjinder.nijjar@groundwork.org.uk .
