Support us, make a donation today
Founded in 2002, a small group of local residents had the vision and dedication to convert a neglected nature reserve into what you’ll find today
How we've Grown (History)
Founded in 2002, a small group of local residents had the vision and dedication to convert a neglected nature reserve into what you’ll find today - a thriving community garden, which preserves and cares for the nature reserve and its original inhabitants.
Sydenham Garden was later constituted as a charitable company limited by guarantee in 2004.
Following a year and a half of rubbish and scrub clearance, the laying out of a community garden began in 2005.
A small, walled garden, enclosing several raised beds was built immediately in front of the greenhouse, using bricks reclaimed on site (probably originating from the other demolished greenhouses). Volunteers and co-workers were involved in the construction and subsequent planting with vegetables, herbs and flowers. The garden was officially opened at our Spring Fair in April 2006 by T.V. gardener and writer, Gay Search.
The garden is for the whole community, but is particularly used by those people, referred to us by local health professionals, who are coping with significant illness, for horticultural, conservation, creative work, arts & crafts tasks and training.
We run a variety of therapeutic gardening sessions through the week for referred clients or 'co-workers'. Each co-worker sets their aims and objectives with our experienced staff and volunteer team, and takes on tasks each week that help them to engage with the project and the land.
Work includes sowing, preparation, digging, ground clearance, and harvesting. Some of our produce is cooked and shared by our co-workers, and some of it is processed or preserved and sold to local people at our events.
Although the community garden is very much the focal point of our activities and services today, our first project activities actually started with Arts & Craft sessions at Sydenham Green Health Centre.