Core Landscapes’ meanwhile history
Across London there are empty pieces of land that are locked up waiting for building work to begin and this can often take years at a time. Meanwhile projects, like Core Landscapes, are able to transform these locked up sites into inclusive green resources for local communities.
Core Landscapes’ began in Canning Town in 2009 and has moved across 3 east end boroughs since then; Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney. Our movable gardens create opportunities for inclusive green education, volunteering, horticultural up-skilling, up-cycling, community events and training along with support for other community projects, to promote positive mental health and wellbeing through gardening and engaging in the natural world.
Core Landscapes showcases how to container grow in unlikely places in our now predictably unpredictable climate.
Container gardening is very relevant to many people in the city with limited growing space available. But not having a garden or ground to grow in does not mean no gardening… Balconies, window boxes, walls, roofs, railings and a vast array of community gardening projects, all offer opportunities for growing, sharpening horticultural skills and meeting new people. If you rent your accommodation you can take you garden with you when you move.
Gardens can be created anywhere anyhow!
Our experiences of moving the project 4 times has taught us how to adapt to whatever environment we find ourselves in working collaboratively and using limited resources in imaginative ways. We have always embraced upcycling, recycling and reusing – aiming for a zero carbon footprint. The project moulds to fit the needs of whatever community we find ourselves part of with positive mental health at its heart. People are able to learn life long gardening skills during their time with us and use them wherever they be gardening next to help nurture their mental health.
Gardens are always in a state of flux and never finished. Meanwhile gardens embrace this sense of fluidity and can be beacons of hope in otherwise grey urban environments. They can influence planners and local authorities to value the long-term impact that community based green spaces have on peoples health and wellbeing.