Lambeth Council has agreed to give Eden £4,200 for four new raised beds to go at the top of the garden; they are to be built by the end of May. The money is in response to the demand for more space for community gardening.

Philippa Gould, chair of Eden’s committee, said, “This is fantastic news, and we welcome Lambeth’s support for this new development.”

“New raised beds mean that more people can get involved which is great,” said Charlotte Hollinshead, who looks after one of the existing beds. Charlotte was also an organiser of last autumn’s party for friends and family of the raised beds’ gardeners. Some 40 people shared food, including soup – made from pumpkins grown in the garden. There was a glowing fire, with sparklers and marshmallows; and while the children played, the adults drank wine.

The lively raised beds group has begun to meet on Monday afternoons after school. Azra Kayani comes with her three children. “Last summer we grew parsnips, carrots and beetroot. It’s a natural way of learning for the children,” she said. Tim Harborne, who has no garden at home, also uses his raised bed to grow a variety of herbs and vegetables.

Above: Late summer produce. Below: pumpkin still life; child with sparkler at autumn party; blazing fire. photos: C.Hollinshead

Potted Up

Ourexcellent new neighbours, Clapham Pottery, opened its doors in the former chapel at the top of Matrimony Place in September. Classes for adults and children are up and running, and co-ordinator Naine Woodrow is committed to supporting Eden and incorporating the garden as a resource for students. Naine is also planning to launch a monthly supper club, to be held initially above the North Street shop. This “secret restaurant” will give all its profits to Eden.

The potters are also planning a “raku” event, a Japanese technique of open firing. This will take place at the back of the churchyard in the summer. Adults only.

Flattened

Planning permission for six flats bordering Matrimony Place and the bottom of the churchyard was refused in early February. St Paul’s churchyard is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) within the RectoryGrove conservation area.

Signing on

An elegant new sign will shortly be in place at the lower gate to the garden. Thanks to funding from Lambeth Council, the noticeboard will provide a history of the garden, and also give details of forthcoming Eden events.

Snow Stopper

On the winter solstice, snow came falling snow on snow. And more. There was horizontal sleet and rain but also, according to a dozen doughty celebrants, a bonfire, umbrellas, mince pies, plumwine. Children refused to come out to play but a hard core of adults were (more or less) willing, and community cheer was in evidence.

Path finder

More thanks to Lambeth Council for funding the new path – from top to bottom of the garden. It was one of the recommendations listed by the great and the good of the Green Flag inspectors, in order to provide full wheelchair access. Eden hopes to gain its third Green Flag award this summer.

Letter

Sir – March is here – what I call a boisterous month when all those perky chappies (sorry, ladies, I know that nowadays you like to be included) get going in the garden, and that’s just plants.

So may I suggest that whoever is in charge of Eden could plant up a decent show of colour this spring. These days people go for what I understand is the modern rage for drab greys and greens and I detect a similar trend in the Eden garden. To stop this rot, my suggestion for this summer would be a splendid display of red, white and blue: so how about blue lobelia, red snapdragons and white alyssum? Perhaps it would not be too much to ask that it be planted to represent the Union Jack flag. Mr Ross Blight, SW4

   PS I do not expect you to publish my letter – it will surely be put on some wretched organic compost heap alongside new-fangled foreign herbs.

The editor writes: Stephen, our gardener, would welcome a contribution of plants of any hue from Mr Blight. “We can decide together where to plant them,” says Stephen.