July's Garden News

June has been a busy month! We have had three highly successful open days, the Chelsea Fringe, Open Squares and the National Garden Scheme. These events have opened the garden to hundreds of new visitors all of whom were enchanted by our unique and wonderful garden, many became members and we raised badly needed funds for the garden as well as cancer charities.

The garden is looking stunning in the early summer sunshine and July looks like its going to be sunny and HOT!

Its one of the best times of the year to be in the garden. Olden Garden is one of the largest and most important greenspaces in Islington and we rely on our members and local people to help maintain the garden. We have very limited funding to run the garden so the majority of the upkeep has to be carried out by members and volunteers, that's you!

Usually we have good attendance on workdays but the past few months has seen quite a drop in numbers. Unfortunately only eight people came in June, including the two gardeners and several committee members.

There are many benefits to coming to a workday. Getting to know your neighbours, the satisfaction of contributing to the development of this beautiful garden and learning many garden skills. It’s also healthy exercise, and at the end of the morning we provide a wonderful, cooked lunch.

Some people are limited in what they can do, that’s okay, do what you can and just enjoy the day. We have dozens of different things to do every month in order keep up the garden. Keeping bindweed at bay is just one of them. People of all ages, families with young children and volunteers with any level of ability are very welcome. Non members are also welcome on volunteer work days, its a great way to introduce new people to the garden, why not invite a friend or neighbour to join you?

Our next workday is on Saturday July 19th from 10am to 4pm. Following this we have Saturday workdays once a month every month (except December and January). Please come along and lend a hand, we rely on our volunteers to keep our garden going.

If you have any suggestions on how the garden can improve, how you can contribute more to it and how we can better provide for our members needs then drop us a line with your suggestions and we will try our best to make improvements.

Every week, our lovely gardeners Andrew and Laura are in the garden every Tuesday and always welcome any help that is volunteered.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in the garden soon,

The O.G