Planting more Postcode Gardeners

We’ve very proud to have successfully piloted the first Postcode Gardener project in Hackney Back in 2018 we worked with Kate Poland, UK’s first-ever ‘postcode gardener’, Daubeney Fields Forever, crowdfunders and other community partners to take 10xGreener forwards.

Friends of the Earth launched the 10xGreener project earlier in 2018 in one street in the E5 neighbourhood to learn how to do this across the country. Residents on Daubeney Road came together in bursts of weekend activity to make planters and create a more natural, green environment. The project is coordinated by Friends of the Earth, and guerrilla geographer and London National Park City founder Daniel Raven Ellison.

6 months later London became the world's first National Park City and celebrated it's new status with over 300 free events across the capital.

Five years later the E5 Postcode Gardener project is going strong with Steph Goward and community ecologist Gerry Tissier. Daubeney Fields in Hackney is flourishing with wildflower meadows and pollinator-friendly plants. All dug and sown by the local community with help from Steph and Gerry. We are currently in the process of working with the team to establish a 4 km-long Hackney Buzzline, meandering from Daubeney Fields to Mabely Green, with designated planting sites at parks along the route. Enthusiastic young individuals have taken on the task of sowing flower beds brimming with nectar-rich blooms to nourish bees, butterflies, and various pollinators.

A bright green Future for Postcode Gardeners

It’s amazing to see that Postcode Gardeners are now being rolled out across the country.

Friends of the Earth have identified new areas that would really benefit from some street gardening, by mapping out places that lack green space and are most at risk of air pollution, flooding and urban heating.

In partnership with The Co-operative Bank, Friends of the Earth are funding Postcode Gardeners in communities in these areas, to green up their spaces in the way they want. Together they'll bring back nature to 1,000 spaces across the country.

Bringing back nature

Incorporating nature into your daily routine has been associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced overall health. Many individuals desire healthier and more environmentally friendly streets, but they frequently face time constraints and a lack of expertise to nurture new plantings.

A lot of people in Hackney don’t have gardens. By getting involved in the local gardens, you get the opportunity to play your part in tackling the environmental crisis by preserving habitats for pollinators and quite literally getting your hands in the soil to make a difference in your neighbourhood.

Gardening is a team effort, working together in a garden helps foster collaboration and teamwork. It brings people of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels together to contribute towards a common goal.

This is where a Postcode Gardener can make a significant impact. Their role involves transforming streets within a single postcode area, fostering a sense of community among neighbours while introducing greenery to the urban landscape.

It's lovely to see how engaged the children in Hackney are with the gardening project. They’ve loved getting their hands in the soil, watching the plants grow and connecting with the community.

Curious about the role of a Postcode Gardener?

Postcode Gardeners specialise in encouraging community engagement and outdoor activities. Their primary mission is to cultivate a variety of plants, including flowers, food, and greenery that supports wildlife, beautifying streets, front gardens, and any accessible public spaces for the community's enjoyment.

It’s a fun way to teach kids about nature and get them excited about protecting the planet by starting on their doorstep. The best part is that it hasn’t cost these residents a penny and it will be free for them to enjoy long into the future.

Their responsibilities include orchestrating the overall plan for a specific postcode area, actively participating in gardening tasks, and offering gardening education to volunteers, enabling everyone to actively contribute to the creation of greener, more vibrant streets.