Grow Lissenden
An environmental gardening + growing project in Lissenden Gardens
Affiliated to the Lissenden Gardens Tenants Association (LGTA), Grow Lissenden was launched in 2012 by residents Pomme and Tony Edwards, with support from a Camden Communities Green Fund grant. The project has a keen focus on climate change issues and receives ongoing funding from the LGTA and Camden’s Housing DMC.
We are on a mission to do what we can locally to reduce the impact of the food we eat on climate change and the environment, and on our own health. Our world depends on insects to pollinate 80% of food crops. Worldwide use of industrial, chemical pesticides and herbicides destroys these insects, the effect of which contributes to gluts, shortages, soil erosion and ultimately threatens the world’s food supply.
Grow Lissenden community fruit tree, 2020
While we can’t solve the world’s problems, we can change what we do here on our home patch by:
eschewing the use of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in both food growing and flower gardening
having a go ourselves at seasonal organic veg growing on our balconies and in our community veg beds - sharing experience and know-how and enjoying new tastes
tuning into Nature’s cycles to make natural compost from our street tree leaves
rewilding areas of our local park on Highgate Enclosures, to create nectar rich pesticide/herbicide free havens for pollinating and soil improving insects
Keep an eye on this section to learn more about our objectives, see what we’ve been up to, and how to join in.
In the Autumn we harvested the leaf fall from the estate paving and street. After being temporarily stored in bags around the tennis site enclosure, the leaves were added to our composting beds. We were assisted by several volunteers from the Green Gym and estate residents on Green Gym gardening day in mid-January.
If you would like to volunteer your help for the next session, please contact Tony or Pomme.
The leaf compost and mold is used throughout the year in a multitude of Grow Lissenden projects. The Plane tree leaves we have on our streets at Lissenden turn to compost, with fungus, in 2 years. Other leaves take 6 months or so. Tree leaf mulch is an excellent nutrient for trees, flowers, veg and shrubs.
Big trees, such as those on Hampstead Heath, get nothing else but leaf mould and fungus as nutrients.
Last year Grow Lissenden built the veg beds on the forecourt by the gated Heath entrance, and planted 13 trees, and native tree hedge, on Highgate Rd Enclosures, with agreement of Parks. Trees planted included Hawthorne, Wild Rose, Hazel and Field Maple.
Grow Lissenden is always looking for new helpers. If you are interested in getting involved please contact Tony or Pomme Edwards, and keep an eye out on your block notice board for upcoming event dates. The work varies from light to vigorous exercise, it’s very sociable and there is always a coffee break.
Spring is the best time of year to start on the veg beds. If your children, or your neighbours children, are interested in learning to grow their own food, please contact us. All children must be supervised by their adult(s). We can provide gardening tools, and even seeds!
Do come and help plant with Grow Lissenden, when you see dates on notice boards.
Grow Lissenden News
Want to know more / do more about the climate and environmental crisis we are facing and find out about some great locally based ways to make the changes needed to a happier, healthier and friendlier future?
www.londonpermaculture.com - links and workshops on gardening and growing Nature's way
www.pan-uk.org - the Pesticides Action Network. Facts, leaflets and contacts to support pesticide free growing.
www.vegbox.org - Kentish Town organic veg box scheme - a members coop sourcing veg from local UK farms and small edge of the city salad growing businesses.
www.londonwildlifetrust.org.uk - supporting wild Nature in the city
www.transitionkentishtown.org.uk - a friendly local action based approach to building greener, friendlier and less polluting local communities.
www.thinkanddocamden.org.uk - A Camden Council and local community groups partnership pop up that's generated lots of local projects to join and ideas that transfer onto local streets and estates. Currently based at '19' in the old Greenwood Centre building in Highgate Road
www.climateemergencycamden.org - local activist groups alliance, founded to promote awareness about and action on the climate and environmental crises we are facing now. Supporting Camden Council's climate emergency plan and promoting positive alternatives that will help us to reach UK carbon cutting targets by 2030.