Guerilla gardening in Fordwych Road

Residents in the north of West Hampstead may have noticed some lovely flowers popping up around the base of the trees in Fordwych Road. But it’s community spirit that’s also blooming in the NW2/NW6 herbaceous borders.

Fordwych Road treepit

If this sort of guerilla gardening sounds up your street, or you could see it on your street, then put July 11th in your diaries.

Naomi Schillinger, author of Veg Street and popular urban gardening blog Out of My Shed, will be giving an introductory talk on setting up community garden projects. These can range from the tree pits pictured above to full-scale vegetable beds.

The talk takes place at Davina House, the redbrick building on Fordwych Road, next to St Cuthbert’s Church and runs from 7-7.30pm. The event is hosted by newly formed Garden Friends NW2, which is heading up a ‘Green-up and Clean-up’ Fordwych Road initiative. You can contact the group at .

The Garden Friends has also launched an Adopt-a-Treepit project on Fordwych Road. As one of its advocates told me “The huge thing is meeting your neighbours over the flowerpits. Fordwych has been rather faceless until now”.

James Earl, chair of the Fordwych Residents Association, said “It’s great to see the planting and it’s really brightened up Fordwych Road. Local residents have been in touch to say how much they appreciate the plants and flowers. Thanks to all those who’ve put in the effort to make this happen.”

Friendliness is blossoming along Fordwych Road and there’s even a Herb Corner in the offing too.

If you can’t make the talk and want to know more about treepits, then read Naomi’s blogpost on the topic here: http://outofmyshed.co.uk/2013/01/15/edging-a-tree-pit/.