Hackney garden gets a share of £800,000

Woodberry Down garden. Photo: GroundWork

A Hackney garden project has been granted a share of £800,000 in government funding for making the borough greener for the Olympic Games.

A temporary garden on the Woodberry Down Estate in Stamford Hill, which is currently threatened by building works, will be relocated to a new site on derelict land by residents.

Environmental regeneration charity Groundwork London and other three organisations have been selected to get a green grant from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The charity will use the money to transform 20 deprived spaces in the Olympic host boroughs.

Councillor Karen Alcock, Deputy Mayor of Hackney, said: “Providing new homes and community facilities is only one part of the regeneration of Woodberry Down, and along with employment training Hackney Council is committed to supporting initiatives that improve residents’ quality of life.”

Woodberry Down Gardening Committee is among the first groups which will benefit from the Groundwork scheme along with three other Hackney environment projects.

The committee will get an initial £5,000 investment to bring in the resources necessary to transform the site.

Ben Coles, director of communities and local partnerships, said Groundwork London has been “passionate about outdoor spaces for three decades”.

“We are excited about the range of environmental volunteering opportunities this programme creates, and that people involved in the ’Transform’ project will be truly empowered to lead more sustainable lifestyles and change their behaviour to reduce their environmental impact,” he added.

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