Keeping It Local: Ethelburga Estate Community Garden
By Elaine Michel, Open Spaces committee member and Society Trustee
A Q&A with Tim Graham, Head Gardener of the Ethelburga Estate Community Garden. I asked him about the value of a Community Garden, the challenges involved and how they’ve kept the momentum going for over a decade.
Tim Graham, Head Gardener for the Ethelburga Estate Community Garden. © Tim Graham.
Q: Please introduce yourself and the garden to our readers.
A: My name is Tim Graham. I’m Head Gardener for the Ethelburga Estate Community Garden, working with a brilliant core team of volunteers and support from Ian Harrison, Horticultural Services Manager at Wandsworth Council. The garden is in the Heron House car park. It was set up about 14 years ago with Council funding. We also maintain the raised beds around what is now Parker Bakery, as well as a number of hanging baskets and smaller beds across the estate. The beds by the bakery were built in 2018 in partnership with social enterprise London Cooking Project, who ran a community kitchen garden and supper club. They delivered several community outreach sessions. We now grow veg and seasonal flowers there. The tulips and wallflowers are looking great at the moment. The bakery has added more containers which add to the greenery. On a sunny day like today it’s a lovely spot to sit and enjoy coffee and a baked treat.
Spring flowers outside Parker Bakery. © Elaine Michel.
Q: What’s on the menu?
A: In the main garden we still have winter vegetables - broad beans, purple sprouting broccoli and cavolo nero. In the greenhouse we’ve onions, corn, tomatoes, strawberries and potatoes which will be planted out in the next month or so. There are 10 mature fruit trees as well as a small lemon tree which is doing well. We propagate as much as we can, I’ve cuttings from fuchsias, hydrangeas and peonies which have taken well. This year we’ll be growing lots of sunflowers again, they are always a big hit.
The lemon tree. © Elaine Michel.
Q: What about challenges?
A: It’s not without challenges and disappointments. Initially there was an element of trial and error. It’s disappointing when crops don’t grow as expected or are eaten by garden pests. Overall, we’ve been very successful, in summer there are usually boxes of surplus which we leave outside the entrance for people to share and enjoy. The raised beds need plenty of watering, especially as hot summers are now more common. The main garden is open most summer afternoons from 4-6pm and we aim to have a member of the core team on hand to provide help and guidance. It’s worked well and means everyone gets to continue enjoying the garden – visitors are always welcome.
Help Yourself box. © Tim Graham.
Q: What are the main benefits of a community garden?
A: Apart from the variety of beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables, the changing colours during the seasons and the connection to nature for residents of all ages has made the garden a very special space. Many different birds, animals and insects have made it their home. Children especially love the space and like to get involved with the gardening. Many of our neighbours don’t have gardens or only have small balconies, so we’ve all benefited from learning about container gardening, whether it’s in a raised bed or a tiny pot of herbs. Our Whatsapp group has over 60 members, so people can easily share tips or ask questions. The raised beds have been especially helpful to older members - we have one volunteer with Alzheimer’s, and being able to offer her a safe, calm space to do something she loves really means a lot. Ultimately, the garden has cheered up what was a very unloved grey space next to a car park. All this, and the amazing commitment of our core team, has kept the space going for well over a decade.
Summer Colour. © Tim Graham.
Q: And for you personally?
A: The garden gives me huge pleasure, especially seeing the joy it brings to others. Last year I enrolled on the RHS Level 2 gardening course and have just completed my exams. It’s already proving so beneficial, as understanding things like propagation techniques and soil structure will help us grow even better crops, make the garden more sustainable and save money too!
Spring colour. © Elaine Michel.
Q: You mentioned support from the Council?
A: Yes, they are very committed to maintaining and developing green space. They published their first Biodiversity Action Plan last month. The Key Community Priority is creating and maintaining habitats in parks, estates and schools and encouraging community involvement, which is certainly something we offer here. Their gardening competition Wandsworth in Bloom is a great incentive - we won best Community Garden in 2023 and 2024 which gave us a huge boost. We used the vouchers to install simple irrigation pipes in some of the raised beds. We were also able to plant new perennials and bulbs which ensure colourful displays of flowers for years to come
Entrance to the garden - banner by Seabomna Choi, RCA. © Elaine Michel.
Q: How can people get involved?
A: We understand people are busy, so we don’t ask for a regular or financial commitment. Being in central London, residents come and go, but everyone is welcome. We are always interested to hear from horticulture students who’d like hands on experience in a community garden.
For further information please contact Tim on 07881945678 or email the Ethelburga Community Residents Association.