Hackney gardeners spring into action to bring nature’s tranquillity to the city

Fresh from a starring role on Gardeners’ World, we have some shots of Mike Spezzano’s ‘exotic Dalston oasis’. Photographs: Mike Spezzano

The sun is finally out and with it the prospect of spending time outside in the garden and creating an outdoor space to enjoy the fine weather.

For many in Hackney, this means making the best use of limited space at home or appreciating the benefits of a community garden.

One keen gardener really maximising his home plot is Dalston resident Mike Spezzano, who has been chosen in the final five shortlist for the Every Space Counts competition run by Gardeners’ World, showcasing the country’s finest small gardens.

He appears on the show this evening in the first of a series of previews of the shortlisted finalists, with a winner to be chosen by public vote in June.

Mr Spezzano’s exotic Dalston oasis is inspired by his travels abroad, and features tropical plant varieties like banana, bamboo, fatsia and cycad.

He said: “When I first moved into the flat in 2006 I decided to treat the garden just like another room, but instead of decorating it with chairs, tables and other furniture, I used plants.

“It started off as some decking, mainly grass with a few plants in the narrow borders. I turned over the grass to create a blank canvas and then started moving in the plants which I sourced mainly from Columbia Road Market as well as various online and local garden centres.

“I wanted to show people that by employing techniques that make the most of a small space, and with the right plants, you can create a tropical garden filled with exotic plants, that is lush and green and alive all year round and I hope that I’ve achieved this.

“It’s a secluded space to come and relax in after a long day in the city, or somewhere to sit before the day starts – a space that makes you feel as if you’re back on holiday and not in the heart of a sometimes smoggy London.”

For those not so blessed with green fingers, or without their own outdoor patch with which to get creative, Hackney is home to a number of community gardens providing a place for budding growers to get involved with all things horticultural.

This Saturday three such gardens in Hackney will take part in London’s Big Dig event – organised by Capital Growth, a network of over 2,800 food growing gardens across the city – aimed at inspiring people of all ages and abilities to get involved with their local green spots and cultivate crops of their own.

Capital Growth project co-ordinator Chris Speirs said: “Taking place on the same weekend as Earth Day, we are excited to be running our seventh Big Dig day to get hundreds more people growing their own food.

“This is one the highlights of our calendar as we know it gets Londoners growing food together, many for the first time.”

And Claire Pritchard, Chair of the London Mayor’s Food Board, added: “Growing food is such a great way for people to get healthy and reconnect with their food, so I am delighted that the Big Dig continues to offer Londoners the perfect way to get stuck in to their local community garden.”

Hackney’s participants in the event this year are Cordwainers Garden near London Fields, Robin Hood Community Garden in Upper Clapton and The Castle Garden in Green Lanes, attached to the climbing centre.

They will be offering a range of activities on the day to share tips and knowledge with aspiring gardeners and connect with anyone looking to volunteer their time to learning about the benefits of growing plants and food.

Castle Garden volunteer Camilla Barboza shared her own experiences of being involved with a community gardening project, saying: “Volunteering in gardens has changed my relationship with London. It’s a constant reminder of the city’s diversity and that we don’t have to go far to experience different lifestyles.

“Remembering that such beautiful tranquil spaces exist so close by helps when you’re stuck on a crowded train or tired after a long day.”

To take part in the Big Dig event this weekend head over to the Capital Growth website to find out more details. And if you missed Mike Spezzano’s tropical Dalston garden on television, you can catch up with Gardeners’ World on the iPlayer – Mike’s feature comes at around the 28 minute mark