May 2009: Residents in the Lewes Road area of Brighton have reclaimed a derelict plot and are turning it into a community garden. The project is entirely run by volunteers and supported by donations of soil, plants, and turfing. The plot, formerly a petrol station, is privately owned but has been derelict for over four years.
Digging. Photo © Josh Jones
I spent one Sunday working on the garden and saw dozens and dozens of people come and help out, donate materials, or just offer their thanks. The volunteers, who live within the locality, seem to be of all ages and walks of life. On the day, we re-turfed land, created plant features from used car tires, painted signs and decorations, and erected a marquee for food and drink. I was warmed by the simple willingness to help out that every individual shared, and the collective determination to make the garden successful.
Turfing. Photo © Josh Jones
Drilling holes in the tyres, to bind together and make large plant containers. Photo © Josh Jones
‘There’s something pleasant about the symbolism of turning a petrol station into a garden,’ says Duncan, one of the residents to start the project. ‘And it’s wonderful to see how people have responded. It’s as though everyone was waiting for something like this to happen.’
Painting together. Photo © Josh Jones
As the sun went down, the gardeners put away tools and sat on the grass to chat and relax. Food and drink was shared as children showed their inexhaustible energy by continuing to run around. The garden will host a work session and evening party at the first Sunday of every month, but Duncan reckons these will only be the start. ‘I can see people wanting to come here every weekend. Maybe every day.’
8 Comments
Lush :-) x
I live just over the road and when i saw the garden i was really pleased to see it being used for something positive that will bring people and the community together.
Hope to visit it soon!
Hello josh
Hope you can make it to the garden this sunday and see how much it has
advanced we have been working extremely hard for the past 2 weeks and many
new things have popped up. I love your pictures and would like to use them to make a
I support lewes community garden badge and stickers. I would like to use the big planters as the logo for the badges and hope you can make it and get a good shot that i can later modify on photoshop
Thanks for the pics
best wishes
guerilla gardening gab
Johnny, Paul and Gabriel – thanks to all for your comments.
Gabriel, I hope to return this Sunday if possible, but if I’m not there I’m sure you can borrow another’s photographic abilities. :)
Best wishes to all.
Well done. I live in Lewes Road, and that site’s been an eyesore for ages.