Watch the mini documentary with Qasa Alom

Addressing unequal access to nature

St George's Estate's green space was an unloved and unused patch of land in the heart of East London, where access to urban nature is already hard to come by. In 2013, we worked with East End Homes to plant an orchard for the thousands of residents who lived there. We came back over the next few years, planting more trees and providing workshops to help ensure residents had the skills to nourish and grow this newly transformed space.

A green haven

The result? A flourishing communal garden that provides a peaceful space for social gatherings, from biweekly over 50s meets to food growing sessions to family activities - and so much more.

Volunteer Heroes

Spaces like these need tending to, and that's where community effort comes in. In our mini documentary, we interview Jim, who, with wife Genia, plays a pivotal part in the upkeep of the shared space.

Jim told us, "Once I retired, volunteering became my work. The orchard is just a phenomenal space. I wake up in the morning and think ‘I need to get downstairs, there’s something to do.’ There are benefits not just for me, but for other people." 

Another resident, Lindsey, has one of the 20 vegetable growing plots in the orchard, and benefits from spending a lot of time there. He shares, "It’s good for my health, because I developed problems with cancer, and I come down for exercise and fresh air." Lindsey has also noticed how the orchard brings people together: "We talk to each other now, we’re friendly. We didn’t even say hello to each other before, we just walked by."

St George's Estate orchard, also known Swedenborg Square Orchard, is a prime example of the amazing benefits a thoughtfully designed and much loved green space can provide. As Jim explained to us, "The benefits of orchards are more than fruit." And we couldn't agree more!