Morland Estate residents to dig deep for new communal garden

Neglected: The communal space before the fences were pulled down.

Residents from Morland Estate in London Fields are raising money to turn a neglected plot of land into a communal garden complete with vegetable patches, a fruit tree orchard and a natural play area for children.

The project, which aims to raise £30,000 for the new space, is a three-way partnership between the Morland Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, Trees for Cities and Hackney Homes which manages the estate.

In June last year, residents from the estate tried to stop Hackney Council from auctioning off a different section of land on the edge of the estate but it was eventually sold in September.

Despite being “disappointed” that particular plot was sold, the fight to save it brought the residents of the estate closer together and the Morland Estate Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TRA) was formed.

The association has already successfully fought to have a set of blue fences which were surrounding the central outside space pulled down, and is now planning to transform the “neglected” spot into a thriving community garden.

Julian Blake, Chair of the Morland and Blanchard Estates TRA said: “We ran a ballot among all of the residents and decided that what we wanted was a garden, and to grow vegetables.

“Before next spring comes around we will have a fully functioning garden. As well as creating a space which is much more open and be a nicer area to sit in it will hopefully bring the residents together.

“Until now we have a central area which has been neglected and fenced off which is quite alienating. We will end up with a space that is central where people can congregate and can actually talk to each other. It’s very exciting.”

Mr Blake also said that the TRA wants to offer traineeships in horticulture for those on the estate who have been long-term unemployed.

Trees for Cities, an independent charity which specialises in planting trees in urban environments as part of community-led projects, has launched a crowdfunding campaign looking to raise £10,000 towards funding the new space.

The greening charity has already received substantial donations from the Hackney Parochial Charity and the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.

Hackney Homes is also contributing financially to the project and Trees for Cities have pledged to match every pound that the social housing management organisation commits.

To visit the crowdfunding page for the Morland Estate garden, follow the link here