Grow Green Rooftop Garden
The rooftop garden is free and open to all residents on the Maiden Lane estate.
Come visit this spot in the sun and enjoy healthy living and growing.
And pick ripe fruit and veg!
Come visit this spot in the sun and enjoy healthy living and growing.
And pick ripe fruit and veg!
Maiden Lane Community Lunches 2013 @ Maiden Lane Community Centre
Residents of Maiden Lane Estate are invited to enjoy a good lunch and afternoon of entertainment.
Saturday 25 Jan, 1pm book by 18 January
Saturday 23 Feb, 1pm book by 15 February
Saturday 30 March, 1pm book by 22 March
Saturday 27 April, 1pm book by 19 April
Saturday 25 May, 1pm book by 17 May
Saturday 29 June, 1pm book by 21 June
Please book and confirm any dietary requirements. Vegetarian option available on
020 7267 9586 or email [email protected] as spaces are limited.
Saturday 25 Jan, 1pm book by 18 January
Saturday 23 Feb, 1pm book by 15 February
Saturday 30 March, 1pm book by 22 March
Saturday 27 April, 1pm book by 19 April
Saturday 25 May, 1pm book by 17 May
Saturday 29 June, 1pm book by 21 June
Please book and confirm any dietary requirements. Vegetarian option available on
020 7267 9586 or email [email protected] as spaces are limited.
What are we up to?
Santander Link Up With Grow Green Volnteers
4 October 2012 - Grow Green volunteers and the estate's gardeners were thrilled to work with a team of 6 staff members from Santander's office in Ludgate Circus. Together, we spent the day on a number of green space projects. The Santander team leader explained,
"Having visited a number of prospective charities, we wanted to support the team at Maiden Lane."
"There was a real sense of enthusiasm and determination from everyone working at and living on the estate to make a difference in the lives of local residents."
"We felt that these gardening activities would
make a real and long term difference to the
community."
"Having visited a number of prospective charities, we wanted to support the team at Maiden Lane."
"There was a real sense of enthusiasm and determination from everyone working at and living on the estate to make a difference in the lives of local residents."
"We felt that these gardening activities would
make a real and long term difference to the
community."
We lucked out with the weather, and with the sun shining we tackled the first activity of the day which was to add a nutritional boost to 30 fruit trees. This work involved drawing a circle around each tree, digging out a 2 inch trench around the base of the tree, filling in with compost (donated by London Waste) and then topping up with wood chip (donated by Camden Tree Surgeons). This will ensure the trees are protected through the winter months from frost, and that the trees bear fruit this spring.
Volunteers also transplanted 4 trees to new locations around the estate where they would benefit from the most sun and wind protection. One volunteer reflected,
"The main challenge was the physical act of digging and then lifting the waste materials away and the long walk between where the trees were planted and were the compost and wood chip were kept – we must have walked miles with our wheelbarrows that morning!"
Overall, volunteers felt that,
"It was very rewarding when local residents stopped to ask us what we were doing and took
interest in the work, or thanked us for helping out."
"We did have to defer to Les the head gardener though on some of the technical
questions, though!"
After a well deserved lunch break the team tackled the afternoon challenge of covering the Green Peppers Orchard and Woodland Walk with fresh wood chips. One volunteer said,
"We thought this would be easy but it turned out to be back breaking work! Working in a convoy we had to shovel wood chip into wheelbarrows, plastic buckets and sacks, and then push and carry these on the 5 minute walk to where the material needed to be spread."
"When someone who can complete a half marathon in 1hr 28min says he is shattered and physically hurts, you know you are trouble!"
The transformation was incredible – the wood chip really brightened our communal green areas and made them even more attractive!
We would like to thank the Santander team very much for their work last week and we look forward to seeing all of them again next year!
Volunteers also transplanted 4 trees to new locations around the estate where they would benefit from the most sun and wind protection. One volunteer reflected,
"The main challenge was the physical act of digging and then lifting the waste materials away and the long walk between where the trees were planted and were the compost and wood chip were kept – we must have walked miles with our wheelbarrows that morning!"
Overall, volunteers felt that,
"It was very rewarding when local residents stopped to ask us what we were doing and took
interest in the work, or thanked us for helping out."
"We did have to defer to Les the head gardener though on some of the technical
questions, though!"
After a well deserved lunch break the team tackled the afternoon challenge of covering the Green Peppers Orchard and Woodland Walk with fresh wood chips. One volunteer said,
"We thought this would be easy but it turned out to be back breaking work! Working in a convoy we had to shovel wood chip into wheelbarrows, plastic buckets and sacks, and then push and carry these on the 5 minute walk to where the material needed to be spread."
"When someone who can complete a half marathon in 1hr 28min says he is shattered and physically hurts, you know you are trouble!"
The transformation was incredible – the wood chip really brightened our communal green areas and made them even more attractive!
We would like to thank the Santander team very much for their work last week and we look forward to seeing all of them again next year!
Designing decorative planters!
12 & 19 September 2012
And a really BIG thank you to Lawsons!
Click here
Lawsons donates £500 in materials to help us scale up the Community Centre roof garden...
We were so delighted to hear that Lawsons would be making a charitable donation of building and garden materials to the Grow Green rooftop garden project. Lawsons donated 2 tonnes of top soil and an array for trellis and building materials worth over £500.
Lawsons' generosity came at a really great time and has allowed us to put the final changes in place to revitalise the rooftop area. This donation has helped us stretch every pound from our main funder Local Food as far as possible.
Many many thanks from all of us!
Like Lawsons on Facebook
Lawsons' generosity came at a really great time and has allowed us to put the final changes in place to revitalise the rooftop area. This donation has helped us stretch every pound from our main funder Local Food as far as possible.
Many many thanks from all of us!
Like Lawsons on Facebook
Volunteers source palettes for new planters
14 August 2012 - Last week several of our green project volunteers collected a truck load of discarded palettes. These are the palettes we use to build the planters on the roof so we were really happy when they arrived on Wednesday. Great work guys!
Over the weekend volunteers began building the 6 new planters in the roof garden which will accommodate new plants. The design includes a second herb box and also a hexagonal planter. More pictures to come!
Over the weekend volunteers began building the 6 new planters in the roof garden which will accommodate new plants. The design includes a second herb box and also a hexagonal planter. More pictures to come!
Camden Community Radio Newscast 17
21 July 2012 - Click here to listen to Camden Community Radio Newscast 17 about two launches at the Maiden Lane Community Centre this summer. One of them is the rooftop garden. Enjoy!
How we are looking these days...
29 July 2012 - Here is a gallery of how far the roof garden has come in the past month.
Apples on the fruit trees!
Here we are painting bamboo sticks to make WIGWAMS!
July 2012
Launch Party in Camden New Journal
Click image to view article in Camden New Journal.
Rooftop Garden Launch Party
23 June 2012
Mayor of Camden Heather Johnson and Marion Pike with Camden New Journal and Camden Community Radio at roof top launch.
Planning & building the Rooftop Garden - Early Days
June 2012
Press Release - Growing Scheme Grant Awarded
15 May 2012
£30,000 for Camden growing scheme
Maiden Lane Community Centre in Camden, London, has received a £30,000 grant from Local Food, a £57.5 million programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund, which provides funding for projects working to make
local food more accessible and affordable to communities.
The money will be used to transform the Centre’s abandoned flat roof into a fruit and vegetable garden for the local community.
The garden will provide fresh produce for 50 people who will grow their own, as well as a further 50 households who will be able to pick their own.
The project will include training for local community members and a gardening apprentice, and will offer educational initiatives, a community gardening club, and the refurbishment of the Centre’s kitchen where meals will be prepared with produce from the garden...
Marion Pike, Grow Green Director, said:
“In these strained economic times, it is crucial that communities are able to benefit from the opportunity to grow their own food. This initiative is welcomed by community members who look forward to the many benefits of the project, which include increased community integration, access to green space and opportunities to volunteer and gain skills training.”
Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager, said:
“Projects like this have a wide and lasting impact on the community and we are delighted to support them. Our scheme is about promoting the benefits of locally-grown food, and this project demonstrates how these can stretch far beyond simply eating more healthily, to giving people new skills, new confidence and a closer connection with their local community.”
For further information please contact:
Marion Pike, Director, Grow Green, 020 7267 9586, [email protected]
Annie Bowden, PR & Communications Officer, Local Food: 01636 670062, [email protected]
£30,000 for Camden growing scheme
Maiden Lane Community Centre in Camden, London, has received a £30,000 grant from Local Food, a £57.5 million programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund, which provides funding for projects working to make
local food more accessible and affordable to communities.
The money will be used to transform the Centre’s abandoned flat roof into a fruit and vegetable garden for the local community.
The garden will provide fresh produce for 50 people who will grow their own, as well as a further 50 households who will be able to pick their own.
The project will include training for local community members and a gardening apprentice, and will offer educational initiatives, a community gardening club, and the refurbishment of the Centre’s kitchen where meals will be prepared with produce from the garden...
Marion Pike, Grow Green Director, said:
“In these strained economic times, it is crucial that communities are able to benefit from the opportunity to grow their own food. This initiative is welcomed by community members who look forward to the many benefits of the project, which include increased community integration, access to green space and opportunities to volunteer and gain skills training.”
Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager, said:
“Projects like this have a wide and lasting impact on the community and we are delighted to support them. Our scheme is about promoting the benefits of locally-grown food, and this project demonstrates how these can stretch far beyond simply eating more healthily, to giving people new skills, new confidence and a closer connection with their local community.”
For further information please contact:
Marion Pike, Director, Grow Green, 020 7267 9586, [email protected]
Annie Bowden, PR & Communications Officer, Local Food: 01636 670062, [email protected]
