Wild Street Estate Garden Club

Yvette Van Giap, a resident of Wild Street, W1, talks about the garden club on the estate.

How did the project begin?
The idea of having a Garden on the Wild Street Estate grew from conversations of residents fed up of just looking out on tarmac and parked cars.  We had the idea of bringing back the garden in Covent Garden.  We held a consultation of all residents and meetings with interested people and Peabody Activate.

Our first ‘hands dirty’ club meeting was on 17 March 2010 and the Garden Club has met every Wednesday from 3.30pm since then. With extra daily watering when needed.

What do you grow on Wild Street and where?
We have four purpose-built mini allotments, one double-sized and two small planters.  One is set aside for flowers and the rest for edibles. This year we have runner beans, peas, carrots, courgettes, spring onions, tomatoes, mint and other herbs. Strawberries, rhubarb, and blackcurrant and gooseberry bushes. Plus in large tubs and grow bags we have potatoes, cabbages and shallots. And a Mini Orchard with dwarf Apple, Pear, Plum and Cherry trees in large tubs.

During the winter we acquired a Green House which has been wonderful for all our seedlings and this year we are experimenting on crop outcomes with having tomatoes and peppers outside and in.

Who is involved and who comes to the garden club?
Our garden club is known on the estate as the Children’s Garden Club, as they are the main growers, ages range from our youngest under two to 9 years old. All in all, we have 10 children, their parents, grandparents and other residents on weekly bases and once a month support from Naomi, a community gardener.

Have there been any difficulties?
Winter when it was too cold or too dark to be outside is always a problem, but we overcame that by meeting weekly inside making bird scarers and other arts and crafts projects on the theme of our garden.

How has the project affected the community?
Our garden serves many purposes, it brings colour and life to the courtyard for all to enjoy. For the Garden Club members it’s an opportunity to make new friends, spend time with other residents and share the harvests of their labour.  We are proud to have brought back the garden in Covent Garden and for all our efforts have been awarded Capital Growth Status.

Having the Garden Club on our Estate has definitely helped to bring the community together.

Any tip for residents who may want to set up a project (gardening or otherwise)?
Before starting any project, consultation, planning and more planning. Then expect it to be a long-term commitment. Commitment of time, energy and passion.

Once the project has started maintain good communications with all, so that everybody knows what is going on and why.

And if it’s a garden club, then do as we do, each week after the gardening, wash hands and have a little picnic – a drink and small cakes - spend that little extra time to sit and talk together.

Also in the news: