Celebrating biodiversity in Walthamstows secret garden

Celebrating biodiversity in London’s secret garden inside a preserved famous stadium

Nestled amongst the bricks of nearly 300 homes in Walthamstow, is a blooming green space for the local community to enjoy.

Created in 2017, the area is home to a ‘secret garden’, an allotment space filled with plants and flowers, including home-grown fruits and vegetables.

On the site the local community recently gathered for the Walthamstow Stadium Summer Biodiversity Fest.

The ‘Wild Walthamstow’ event took place to increase awareness of biodiversity, pollinators, and urban nature, which is important now more than ever with the impacts of climate change.

The event was attended by over 100 members of the local community.

Local resident, and Chair of the Walthamstow Stadium Tenants and Residents Association (TRA), Sarah Chaney said:

“It’s so important to have this outdoor space, where we can get active in growing our own food. The space also serves as a nature hub, full of plants for pollinators.

Getting outside and gardening really helps with wellbeing, and with food costs rising, growing your own food can really help spread the budget too. We have regular community events where all residents can get involved in working on the communal beds, and recent improvements have made the space more accessible for everyone to use.”

Andrea Isip, Community Development Lead at L&Q says:

“Events like these are so important for bringing together the community, whilst learning about biodiversity and how vital small green spaces are.

Not only do they provide calm spaces for people to get outside and enjoy, they are also key hubs for wildlife and nature to thrive.

“We have provided funding to allow local charities to provide support and guidance to residents who are potholders in the garden, to help maximise the use of their growing beds to benefit them and the natural environment.”

The site was previously home to the famous Walthamstow Stadium greyhound racing track, which closed in 2008. Although the site is now a thriving neighbourhood, references to the old site still stand throughout the area.

Within the ‘secret garden’ itself stands the original dog kennels and scoreboard. The preserved iconic grade II listed facade continues to draw in tourists for photos today.

Andrea added: “We’re so pleased to see the ‘secret garden’ has become a much-loved area for the community to nurture and enjoy and thank you to all our partners and the local residents who have contributed to making the space a success.”

The site is hosting an upcoming community event, the Active Autumn Day, on 19 September, 2-4pm which will include planting a wildflower meadow in front of the Stadium.

The event is open for all of the local community to enjoy. Find out more about the event.