transforming meanwhile sites to promote positive mental health for all
transforming meanwhile sites to promote positive mental health for all
Core Landscapes
Community Garden and Plant Nursery
Creating a green haven for the community. By the Community
Core Landscapes transforms underused land in deprived urban areas into hubs for community engagement through horticulture, design, workshops, training and events – improving mental and physical health, overall wellbeing and community cohesion. We currently manage our roof garden, garage garden and street level garden, 7 tree pits and 7 street planters below the roof garden, and a 60m long meadow strip and community orchard in nearby Homerton Grove – with plans to green up more of the local environment further.
Core Landscapes began in 2009 as a “meanwhile” project and we’ve relocated 4 times across 3 boroughs in the last 10 ten years using temporarily available land; Harvesting and diverting rainwater, composting, greening up organically and using solar powered irrigation systems wherever we’ve been based.
Core Landscapes is a Core Arts project: a not-for-profit Social Business that promotes positive mental health and wellbeing through creative learning. Core Arts provides quality education, training, employment and social enterprise initiatives that enable people who experience mental health issues to overcome barriers, fulfil their potential and participate fully in their community.
Location
Teaching Hub Site
Homerton E9
Core Landscapes now has a central hub site on Core Arts’ roof in Hackney. Our roof garden includes a teaching and workshop space, micro plant nursery, greenhouse, water-harvesting and showcases wildlife friendly plants that can withstand heat, exposure and drought.
During term time:
Open to the public on Tuesdays 10am – 3pm
Roof top tours Friday lunch times (by appointment)
Plants are for sale, below the roof garden, on Tuesdays 10am – 3pm
Contact nmercer@corearts.co.uk or 07585 770 868
Latest News
Wardle Street given green makeover by mental health charity
Wardle Street has received a green makeover courtesy of award-winning mental health charity Core Arts. Students and volunteers from Core Landscapes, the organisation’s green arm, planted up 12 tree pits […]
Core values at heart of Wardle Street makeover
Students and volunteers planted 12 tree pits and street planters on Wardle Street and installed a 50 metre-long wildflower meadow strip and community orchard in Homerton Grove […]
Mayor of London awards Grow Back Greener grant to Core Landscapes
Helping London adapt to climate change and promoting walking and cycling by converting grey streets into greener spaces: the Wardle Street Project, led by Core Landscapes, will green the route between Homerton High Street and Homerton Hospital in Hackney, with a community orchard, a new meadow and a green wall […]
Core Landscapes receives the Green Flag Award 2020
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world […]
Core Landscapes wins London in Bloom 2020 Gold Awards
London in Bloom is about celebrating the passion Londoners have for greening our Capital city, recognising the tireless work of volunteers who support and care for many of our parks, squares, and green spaces both […]
Core Landscapes featured in London Landscapes Summer 2020 issue
The Core Landscapes team transforms temporary sites into green havens to promote positive mental health and physical health and community cohesion. […]
Core Arts launches online lessons for budding gardeners as skeleton staff maintains rooftop haven
Mental health charity Core Arts, which runs a community roof garden in Homerton where it hosts courses for budding green thumbs, has moved online amid the coronavirus lockdown […]
Drab roof transformed into community garden
Two hundred volunteers grafted for five months to transform a bland Homerton roof into a community rooftop garden – and the results are stunning.
‘Plan bee’ for cities: new report sows seeds for insect-friendly urban areas
A study has revealed the importance of cities for pollinators and highlights how to attract bees and other insects to urban areas […]
Empowering people to improve their physical and mental health through horticulture, interview with Nemone Mercer […]
Awards
GREEN FLAG AWARD 2021/22
GOLD ‘Our Community’ 2021
OUTSTANDING ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ 2021
GOLD Environment Challenge Award London in Bloom 2021
GREEN FLAG AWARD 2020
OUTSTANDING “It’s Your Neighbourhood Award” 2019
BEST NATURE PROJECT “Social Prescribing Award” – Defra finalist 2019
OVERALL WINNER “Our Community Award” – London in Bloom Award 2018
GOLD “London in Bloom” 2018
OUTSTANDING “It’s Your Neighbourhood Award” 2018
FINALIST Groundwork Community Awards ‘Best Community Contribution to Health and Wellbeing’ 2017
‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’ Thriving 2016
‘London in Bloom’ The Greener Streets Awards 2016
‘It’s Your Neighbourhood Award’ Thriving 2015
‘Sustainable City Awards: Greening the Third Sector’ 2013 / 14
WINNER City Bridge Trust ‘Growing Localities Award’ 2013
2ND PRIZE Best Food Growing ‘Capital Growth’ 2012
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ‘London in Bloom’ 2012
CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE ‘Hackney in Bloom’ 2012
BEST COMMUNITY GARDEN Green Pennant Award 2012
Downloads
“I have poor mental health normally so this really impacted on me and gave me an anchor, a sense of belonging and of the opportunities to reach out and find work or leisure possibilities.”
“I’ve learnt a lot about sowing, time length, watering and soil depth etc. I’ve seen that there are so many people who want a bit of green and cleaner cheaper healthier living despite being constrained by low incomes.”