Therese, long time friend of St Paul's Woodland Garden, writes here about nature and the art of looking.

Last summer, a group of us elderly Irish people were invited for a picnic at the Woodland Garden Project in Camden.

On our arrival we could see we were in for a lovely time. We sat down at a long table set out in a summer colourful setting, the sun was shining, we were all in good form delighted to see each other, lots of chat and laughter rang around this lovely open yet secluded green space as we were served up a hearty meal.

While I was enjoying my surroundings, I noticed a beautiful white plant trailing up a wooden trellis, from where I was sitting I thought it was a climbing Jasmine.

After our meal I spoke with Catherine, one of the project directors about this plant, she told me it was a trailing rose. As we admired this rose together, I thought I must learn more about it. It's just what I have been looking for, thinking to myself how nice it would look on my new empty trellis in the back garden.

 First of all, I noticed how strong, big and healthy looking it was, full of double headed roses growing from multiple stems, it was heavy with white petals, the centre of each rose looked like it was kissed by the honeybees who as they flew away left a delicate yellow circle in the middle of each rose with flat pin like heads standing proud showing off their beauty. The official name of this rose is Frances E Lester but I named it 'Joy' because it lifted my spirits, I could visualise it growing up along my new bare wooden structure intertwining with my old climbing red rose, giving lots of coverage and rest to the wildlife that visit my garden daily, not forgetting the hours of pleasure I would get from seeing it grow and introducing itself to our neighbours and many family and friends who love to sit in our sunny back garden.

 Catherine also educated us on how to take cuttings from plants, how to plant and take care of them, she very kindly gave us the plants we were working on to take home with us, we will follow Catherine's advice and look forward to our new plants in the next few weeks bursting to life and showing off their many colours.

 I would like to thank Catherine, Emma and Ben at the Woodlands Garden Project for their kindness and making our day so enjoyable, we look forward to visiting this lovely green oasis in Camden again real soon. Not forgetting our own Katie, Sean and Dee for organising this wonderful day out for us.

Camden Council has declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency, stating:
“Nature is in crisis. The richness and variety of wildlife that past generations enjoyed are disappearing — and our lives are poorer for it.”

At GCP, our community gardening programmes offer a powerful way to respond to this crisis. Our Lottery-funded biodiversity strand runs through all our Camden projects — including St Paul’s, Camden Square, The Greenwood Centre, Kentish Town, and Charlie Ratchford Court in Chalk Farm. Even when working with groups without access to a garden, we integrate nature and biodiversity into many of our activities.

Wild Bees and Other Pollinators

We’re proud to partner with Pollinating London Together (PLT). Their entomologists are surveying our Camden gardens to assess pollinator activity and advise us on how to enhance it. Based on their guidance, we are:

• Increasing the diversity of bee-friendly plants using evidence-based lists from PLT and apicultural research.

• Selecting plants that flower at different times of the year to extend nectar availability.

• Providing nesting habitats to support pollinator populations.

Climate-Resilient Planting

Biodiversity levels are a key indicator of how climate change is impacting Camden’s green spaces. As summers become hotter and heatwaves more frequent, we’re also focusing on reducing water usage. Our strategies include:

• Developing drought-tolerant, low-water planting schemes.

• Installing automatic irrigation systems where feasible to manage water efficiently.

• Experimenting with containerised planting that can withstand hot, dry conditions.

Sharing Our Learning

We believe that collaboration is essential to making a meaningful impact. That’s why GCP is committed to sharing our insights on biodiversity and climate-resilient planting. Our PLT entomologist has met with all our groups to explain his work, and we’ve been inspired by how engaged our participants are.

Some of our interventions required approval from commissioners and managers. After explaining our goals, they were supportive and enthusiastic about the initiative.

We’re currently building a series of case studies showcasing small, urban growing spaces that demonstrate practical ways individuals and organisations can boost biodiversity in Camden.

Connecting Children with Nature

At GCP, we’ve developed a range of nature-based programmes for children to help them build confidence in exploring the outdoors. Our aim is to foster curiosity, deepen understanding of the local environment, and raise awareness of the impact of climate change.

We also explore how engaging with nature can spark imagination, reduce stress, and support emotional well-being.

Holiday Junior Nature Club

We run a programme of nature-focused holiday activities for Maiden Lane Community Centre’s Junior Club, helping children explore the natural world in their local green space.

Our sessions focus on biodiversity — including birds, invertebrates, trees, bees, and plants — with a fun twist that includes activities like ice cream making and pesto preparation.

What We’re Learning from Children

After each session, we reflect on our goals and gather feedback from participants. Here’s what we’ve discovered from working with the young people at Maiden Lane:

• Children know more about insects than we expected.

• Activities need to be adapted for different age groups to ensure everyone is included.

• Flexibility is key — we respond to the group’s interests and abilities, adjusting plans when needed to keep engagement high.

“By participating in gardening, outdoor learning, and eco-friendly initiatives, our children have started to develop a sense of responsibility and care for the green space around them. The project offers a peaceful escape, encouraging mindfulness and emotional growth in a supportive, natural setting.”
— Amanda Peet, Play Manager, Maiden Lane Community Centre

At GCP, we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy and participate in gardening, regardless of physical ability. Many of our group members face mobility challenges and are unable to work directly on the ground or carry out heavy tasks. Each of our green spaces has presented unique accessibility and functionality challenges — but with creativity, care, and limited funding, we’ve made meaningful improvements to make gardening safer, easier, and more comfortable.

Practical Improvements

We’ve introduced a range of physical adaptations across our sites:

• St Paul’s: Installed wheelchair-friendly paths, raised beds, and a covered activity area to support year-round access.

• Greenwood Centre & Charlie Ratchford Court: Added raised beds to diversify the growing areas and make gardening more accessible.

Beyond Physical Access

Accessibility isn’t just about infrastructure — it’s also about creating inclusive, welcoming environments. At GCP, we tailor our projects to meet individual needs, ensuring that everyone feels valued and able to participate. Our approach is flexible, responsive, and rooted in community care.