St Mary’s Secret Garden: A Legacy of Community and Connection Hackney, London – 16 December 2024 – After decades of enriching lives and fostering community spirit, St Mary’s Secret Garden has sadly become insolvent, marking the end of an era for Hackney’s cherished green space. However, the St Mary’s Secret Garden Volunteers are determined to retain the garden as a community asset. They are calling on Hackney Council, who own the site, to save the Garden for the future benefit of Hackney's diverse communities. In less than a week, their petition to save the garden garnered over 900 signatures, demonstrating the garden's deep impact on the community.
A Place of Community and Belonging
St Mary’s Secret Garden was a sanctuary for connection and growth. Some client gardeners and volunteers were part of its fabric for over 20 years, forming friendships and building a network of mutual support. The garden provided a space where people came together to grow—both literally and figuratively. “This garden was a second home for so many,” said Ita Keown, a volunteer for 27 years. “For volunteers, it provided a chance to give back and learn new skills. It was the best day of my week.”
A Vital Resource for Marginalised Adults
The garden’s closure leaves a significant gap in support for adults with learning disabilities, long-term health conditions, and mental ill health who relied on its day activity programs. Through horticultural therapy, participants engaged in meaningful activities promoting healthy living, breaking cycles of isolation, and fostering a sense of accomplishment. Staff and volunteers carefully adapted tasks to meet individual needs, creating an empowering environment. Participants forged strong bonds, and this dependable meeting point is deeply missed, especially in Hackney, where adult day activity options for marginalised adults with diverse support needs are already limited.
Inclusive, Multifaceted, and Productive Infrastructure
Over the years, the garden expanded its facilities to cater to diverse needs and interests. These included a Changing Places Toilet—one of only four in Hackney—a greenhouse, cooking facilities, a therapy hut, and an apiary. Each feature offered therapeutic and educational benefits while helping to fund the garden through the sale of jams, chutneys, honey, fresh produce, and plants.
An Award-Winning Legacy
The garden earned recognition for its impact on the community. Most recently, it was awarded the London in Bloom Our Community Gold Award for its outstanding commitment to creating an inclusive and vibrant space.
A Vision Aligned with Hackney Council’s Goals
The garden perfectly embodied the goals outlined in Hackney Council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy and Parks and Green Spaces Strategy. By championing biodiversity, fostering wellbeing, and providing equitable access to green spaces, St Mary’s Secret Garden stood as a model of sustainability and community cohesion. Its alignment with the borough’s vision for a greener and healthier Hackney underscores its importance as a community resource.
To support the campaign, sign the petition HERE
By Kirsten Moore
St Mary’s Secret Garden Volunteer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Closure of St Mary’s Secret Garden
1. What was St Mary’s Secret Garden?
St Mary’s Secret Garden was a community garden in Hackney that provided therapeutic horticulture, educational opportunities, and a welcoming green space for people of all abilities. It was an award-winning garden known for its inclusivity.
2. Why did St Mary’s Secret Garden close?
The garden became insolvent, leading to its closure. Despite decades of service to the Hackney community, financial challenges ultimately made it unsustainable to continue operations. The St Mary’s Secret Garden Volunteers are unaware of all the details surrounding the insolvency but are committed to supporting Hackney Council in securing this vital space to benefit the entire community.
3. Who benefited from the garden?
The garden served a wide range of people, including local residents, community groups, and marginalised adults with learning disabilities, long-term health conditions, and mental ill health . Many Hackney services relied on the garden to refer and signpost clients including Tavistock NHS Trust, Camden & Islington NHS Better Lives along with London Borough of Hackney. It provided tailored activities that supported mental and physical wellbeing, helped individuals learn new skills, and fostered a sense of belonging and connection within the community.
4. What impact did the garden have on adults with learning disabilities?
St Mary’s Secret Garden offered adults with learning disabilities a vital day activity program where they could engage in horticulture, learn about healthy living, and socialize. The garden’s staff and volunteers adapted tasks to meet therapeutic, occupational, and vocational needs, helping participants feel valued as members of their community. Strong bonds and friendships were forged over time and this dependable meeting point is very much missed.
5. What awards did the garden receive?
The garden was the recipient of numerous accolades, most recently the London in Bloom Our Community Gold Award, which recognized its outstanding contribution to the community and commitment to inclusivity.
6. What has been done to save the garden?
The St Mary’s Secret Garden Volunteers have launched a petition urging Hackney Council, local organizations, and community members to collaborate in securing the garden’s future. In less than a week, the petition garnered over 900 signatures, reflecting widespread community support. Volunteers have also reached out to Hackney Members of Parliament and Councillors to advocate for this cherished space.
7. What is the petition asking for?
The petition urges Hackney Council and other stakeholders to find a way to secure the future of St Mary’s Secret Garden, ensuring it remains a resource for the community.
8. Why was the garden significant to Hackney’s green initiatives?
St Mary’s Secret Garden aligned closely with Hackney Council’s Green Infrastructure Strategy and Parks and Green Spaces Strategy, which focus on increasing biodiversity, enhancing wellbeing, and providing equitable access to green spaces.
9. How can I support efforts to save the garden?
You can support the campaign to save St Mary’s Secret Garden by signing the petition at https://chng.it/fGCBKPD5fT and sharing it with your networks.
10. What will happen to the land now that the garden has closed?
The land is owned by Hackney Council, which is currently working to secure its future. Efforts are being made to ensure it remains a community asset, but no definitive plans have been announced yet.
11. How does this affect adults with learning disabilities in Hackney?
The closure creates a significant void in support for adults with learning disabilities and the organisations that referred them to the garden for day activity programs. Without this essential resource, many individuals may experience increased isolation, a lack of opportunities to engage in meaningful, community-oriented activities, and fewer avenues to develop skills and connections that enhance their quality of life.
12. What legacy does St Mary’s Secret Garden leave behind?
For over 30 years, the garden provided a space where people could connect, learn, and heal. It leaves a lasting legacy of community, inclusion, and environmental stewardship, highlighting the vital role green spaces play in urban areas.
If you have further questions or wish to get involved, please contact the St Mary’s Secret Garden Volunteers or Hackney Council directly.
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