Roundabout-Junction of Victoria Park Road and
Lauriston Road
I started
gardening on the roundabout in 2002. I have a pottery workshop nearby and noticed
how ignored and untended it had become. At first it was a guerrilla effort but I then got permission and a contract from Hackney
Council. (I pay them £5 pa). It is a community garden in the sense that I do it
for the community -there are rules about how I do it and who can accompany me,
so I cannot include everyone in the work.
I am grateful to
several local residents who help, but as I often go out on the spur of the moment, when the weather is right, and I have
the time, and things need attention, I do not organise it like a ‘project’. The
spontaneity of it is part of my enjoyment.
The roundabout is
raised nearly a meter from road level, so it is mostly visible from the side,
and from a distance of 4m to the surrounding pavements -unless you are up top
on a passing double decker bus. Incidentally this also
makes it tricky to take good broad photos as one is either close recording
small groups of planting or up in the sky with a drone which generalises the
whole thing!
I try to have
things in flower all year. I encourage plants that look after themselves and self seed, and
cannot plant anything valuable as it may disappear overnight! It is open to all
weather and can get very dry so this also dictates
what is happy to survive out there. And I try to keep sight lines visible
through the roundabout, in a cross form -for both safety of drivers and
connection of pedestrians..
People often drop
into my workshop to comment on the planting and thank me. I have never wanted
to put any signs up, there are already enough road directions signs there, but
if anyone is curious to know who cares for the roundabout
they have only to ask a local shopkeeper.
And do get in
touch if you want to help.