Aim

Volunteers will support the development of public green spaces in Islington, one of the UK's most nature-deprived boroughs.

The Garden Classroom (TGC) is a multi-award-winning nature connection charity in North East London with a simple yet profound mission: to ensure everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can access the transformative power of nature. TGC creates opportunities for people to experience all that nature can offer, as well as educating people about the natural world so they feel connected to it and inspired to take care of it.

As part of our ongoing development of public green spaces in Islington, we offer corporate volunteer groups the opportunity to spend time with our dedicated Green Space Managers 'greening' up two sites; Newington Green and Market Road Gardens.  Volunteering involves team based activities from clearing to planting designed to enhance biodiversity, improve habitats, and beautify green spaces for the benefit of all.  Teams will work together and discover the importance of urban greenery. TGC provides all tools, equipments and plants.  

Previous volunteer groups have told us:

“We had a fantastic time with Ruth! We were so well looked after and the session was informative too so everyone came away feeling like they’d done something meaningful”  Intact Insurance

“Please do pass on our thanks to Paula and John. They managed to create such a welcoming atmosphere and allowed everyone to work at their own pace so that people could get out of it whatever they wanted/needed”.  Ardmore

Our volunteering sessions provide an enriching experience that not only
contributes to environmental sustainability but also promotes wellbeing and team cohesion through meaningful outdoor activity.

Please contact TGC for availability and to discuss a 'per-head' contribution towards the costs to our charity for providing team volunteering sessions.

A little more information about our sites:

Newington Green is the base for The Garden Classroom.  Our 'headquarters' (in a hut!) is onsite and we have been working to improve the landscape on the Green for a number of years.  Currently, we run weekly Green Guardians community gardening sessions from here and other nature connection sessions too.  We work closely with the primary school which borders the Green.  Our aim is to make the space more open and welcoming for Islington residents and to maximise its potential to increase the biodiversity of the borough overall. Your support here will improve overall access to nature for Islington residents (71% of whom don't have access to a private garden).  

Market Road Gardens is a great site of around 1.5 hectares.  It's on a busy road surrounded by student accommodation, and neighbours an adventure playground which is well used by children and local residents.  Market Road is a site of importance for nature conservation but it currently lacks planting and landscaping for wildlife to flourish and for residents to dwell there. We want to make the space more open and welcoming for Islington residents and to maximise its potential to increase the biodiversity of the borough overall.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made