Core Landscapes is an extraordinary social-purpose nursery lying between the Royal London Hospital and the redbrick St Augustine with St Philip’s Church, just off the Whitechapel Road in Tower Hamlets. In their own words: ‘…Core Landscapes transforms meanwhile spaces to promote positive mental health for all. We are a permanent movable garden and plant nursery using horticulture to improve peoples lives.This Whitechapel site in the heart of the East End is our third site move since 2009. Each move tightens the project and improves our ways to container grow – from salad leaves to hornbeams. There are a container-based orchards, herbaceous borders, pond, mini-allotment, garden and plant nursery. We also have a bus! Come and meet our fish – and buy some lovely plants…’. If you are a gardener in the East End of London, or the City, you must visit this garden and talk to its remarkable and resourceful manager!
Nemone Mercer runs the site single-handed on Tuesday with the help of volunteers who are all obviously interested in the work, and cheerful, and enjoy working for her. She is joined by another Core Arts colleague and a horticultural therapist trainer on Thursdays when they work with referrals.
There are plants galore for sale, and Nemone and the volunteers are on hand to give advice about what is suitable for your particular garden and that awkward corner. And if you have a garden and don’t know what to do with your excess plants, or prunings, take them along to Core Landscapes where the team will take cuttings and bring them on for sale. It’s just a small contribution but it will make a big difference, and it means you don’t have to throw away all your excess plants.
The small vegetable garden is productive, as is the container-grown orchard.
The Greenhouse is a ‘workhorse’, rainwater is harvested, there is a Bug Hotel production line, and the bus is a meeting house and classroom – amazing!
There are even ‘pretty’ corners as well as functional areas, and somewhere to just sit and enjoy the calm.
Do visit during Open Garden Squares Weekend, or on opening days at any other time of the year.
