Big hearted locals dig deep with community spirit to get Redbridge blooming

Hundreds of flowers were planted in Redbridge recently thanks to local people getting involved in community planting days to get the borough blooming.

The popular green scheme, run across two days in early June, was led by Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhoods Team to help boost biodiversity in the borough, teach new skills in the community and create attractive neighbourhoods.

The team provided those taking part with hi-vis wear, gloves, and trowels, along with training on gardening basics for those new to it.

The fun-filled planting sessions, funded externally through The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, took place outside Wanstead Station and Seven Kings Station, and brought together people of all ages and backgrounds. Among them were local businesses, South Park Primary School, Wanstead Community Gardeners and Redbridge’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability Cllr Jo Blackman.

300 flowers were planted across the two sites.

Fazan Siddiqe, from Goodmayes, planted in Seven Kings in memory of his late mother who loved gardening. He said: “It felt like a beautiful way to honour her”.

Redbridge local David Gilchrist who took part added: “The planters are fantastic—I’ll be admiring them every time I pass by!”

Among the flowers planted across the two days of social action were petunia, begonia, geranium and impatiens.

Yasir Adnan, owner of Aston Estates in Seven Kings, said: “The planters make Seven Kings look nicer and help bring people together.”

Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability Cllr Jo Blackman said: “Our Community Planting Days are a really fun and social way to get involved in creating vibrant neighbourhoods, and an excellent way for residents to restore nature. It was lovely to take part and see everyone bonding over flowers and working together to create more wild spaces and boost biodiversity in the borough.”

Community gardening is one of several eco-projects under the borough’s Our Streets Strategy, which focuses on social action and working with local communities to keep

Redbridge’s street scene green, clean, safe, and attractive.  For more information go to: www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/

Have you spotted an area in the borough where you'd would like to create a community garden? Find out more including how to apply to adopt the area and turn it into a community garden: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/spruce-up-your-neighbourhood/