Hackney's First Estate Parklet: Greening Nightingale Estate and Connecting the Hackney Buzzline
Hackney’s Nightingale Estate has been transformed by its first-ever estate parklet, a green haven that is quickly becoming a social hub and oasis for pollinators. This parklet, located at the corner of Napoleon Road and Muir Road, reflects the residents’ commitment to environmental change and community spirit. Built with the support of Possible, ecoActive, and Giambrone Design, the Nightingale Estate parklet aims to create a meeting space for residents, enhance urban greenery, and support the ambitious Hackney Buzzline pollinator corridor.
From Concrete to Community Garden
James McDaid, a Nightingale Estate resident and active leader in the parklet project, describes the transformation: "There was just masses of space doing nothing after the council brought in controlled parking. We thought, why not make it as green as possible?" What was once an expanse of empty concrete has become a vibrant green space filled with pollinator-friendly plants. With residents taking the lead, the parklet is filled with wildflowers to attract pollinators like solitary bees and bumblebees.
This project was born out of a desire to reclaim open spaces for greenery and communal use, making it the first estate parklet in Hackney—and one of the first in London. Residents began greening up the estate by adding small potted plants, but with the help of Possible, they envisioned something bigger. With design and construction support from Michael Giambrone of Giambrone Design, the parklet became a reality over the summer.
A Green Space for Everyone
With the new seating area under the canopy of shade trees, residents and passers-by now have a cosy spot to gather, relax, or simply enjoy the fresh greenery. Local resident Gemma, who frequents the parklet with her daughter and French bulldog, says, “It’s so nice to just relax here in the mornings with my coffee. My dog wanders around, and it’s become our little go-to spot.” The open nature of the parklet encourages all residents to participate in maintaining the space, which includes regular watering, cleaning, and adding seasonal plants. This shared stewardship has created a sense of ownership and pride among those who helped bring the parklet to life.
Connecting the Hackney Buzzline
The parklet also plays a crucial role in ecoActive’s Hackney Buzzline initiative, a four-kilometre pollinator corridor that links four local parks across three estates. This corridor supports pollinator populations by creating flower-rich pathways that serve as habitats and food sources for bees, butterflies, and other insects. Rachel, ecoActive’s Postcode Gardener, led the community planting session, filling the parklet with nectar-rich plants like Purple Valerian and Vervain, chosen for their high nectar production. Nightingale Primary School students even joined in, helping to finish the planting, making the project an educational experience as well.
A Call for More Green Spaces
Currently, only a few London councils have policies that enable residents to turn parking spaces into parklets. Possible is advocating for more councils to adopt such policies, hoping to reallocate 25% of kerbside spaces to sustainable uses like parklets. With local engagement at an all-time high, residents on the Nightingale Estate are eager to expand these green spaces throughout Hackney, turning unused concrete into thriving, sustainable community hubs.
Hackney’s first estate parklet is a testament to what can be achieved when local residents come together to transform their neighbourhoods. With projects like this, the borough is well on its way to becoming a model for sustainable urban greening and community resilience.
Find out more about the Possible Parklets Campaign.
Use thier parklet plotter to plot where you want to see parklets in areas where they are most needed, and write to your councillor in support of parklets using this handy tool.
