Illustration of a family with raised arms surrounded by yellow exclamation marks, carrots at the bottom, and gardening tools on the sides, with the text 'Energy Garden' underneath.

Horticultural Strategy

Colorful flower bed featuring pink tulips, blue and white flowers, and lush green foliage, adjacent to Finchley Central Station platform with a passing train.

Fostering vibrant gardens and communities

At Energy Garden, part of our mission is to create vibrant and sustainable green spaces that enrich both the environment and the community. Our horticultural strategy is a blueprint for working with communities to guide the cultivation, management and development of a diverse portfolio of gardens on London’s railways. This plan encompasses a range of initiatives that promote biodiversity, enhance soil quality, and create functional and beautiful spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Our Approach

1. Improving soil health

We implement techniques like crop rotation, composting, permaculture soil amendments, and ground cover to enrich the soil's microbial content and fertility.

2. Wildlife-friendly gardens

With a focus on wildlife, we plant native and biodiversity-friendly plants and establish habitats such as dead hedges to provide a haven for local wildlife.

3. Enhancing infrastructure

We're dedicated to improving the infrastructure of our gardens. This includes upgrading benches, raised beds, pathways, and compost bins to enhance functionality and prepare for the future.

4. Cultivating food sources

Our commitment extends to growing more annual and perennial food sources within our gardens, contributing to local food sustainability.

5. Creating beautiful spaces

We follow a specific timeline for seeding, providing support to Engagement Officers, and utilising flower and ground cover seeds to fill any gaps, resulting in fuller and more visually appealing spaces for the community.

6. Supporting volunteers

To nurture our volunteers' gardening interests, we offer learning sessions on composting, soil health, and seed saving across our gardens. Our goal is to empower volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to become leaders in the garden community.

A Year in an Energy Garden

Diagram titled "A Year in an Energy Garden" showing seasonal activities divided into four sections: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter activities include reflecting on the past growing season, laying mulch and compost, pruning perennials, planting trees and shrubs, harvesting party, planting spring bulbs, harvesting hops for energy garden beer, seed saving activities, summer party, preserving harvest, harvesting flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and establishing water rota. Spring activities include collective planning, creating a horticultural plan, ordering seeds, volunteer planting, spring kick-off events, planting new perennials, beginning cycle of direct seeding, planting volunteer-germinated seeds, planting summer bulbs, and harvesting continuing into winter. Summer activities include harvest party, planting spring bulbs, harvest hops, seed saving activities, summer party, preserving harvest, harvesting flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and establishing water rota. Fall activities involve reflecting on the past year and planning for the next, with activities like building beds, fixing compost bins, planting cover crops, preparing for winter, and future planning.

Join us for community gardening in London

If you’re passionate about gardening, community, sustainability, or just want to learn a new skill, join us in transforming London's overground. Together, we can make a lasting positive impact on our city and its people.

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