Light Refreshments Provided

The garden is bigger than my flat! So, in many ways it is our second reception area, with two seating areas, two frog ponds, two little sheds and one special “Torii-inspired” archway.  I’d always wanted one in my garden. Last summer we all erected the torii.  The rest of the garden is a work in progress, almost everything is a “found item” from roaming the streets of Forest Gate—and I’m quite proud of one large bit of Forest Gate history I was able to salvage last summer.  But you’ll have to come over to see it…no spoilers!

– Melina

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

We have divided the garden into 2 areas, only one of which is on ‘show’. Mixture of grass, beds and patio. Some established trees and shrubs. Not a neat and tidy garden.

Main areas of interest are: Recycled bottle wall – glass, Recycled bottle greenhouse – plastic, Raised beds for vegetables, Fruit bed, Flower bed, Sculpture, Pond

– Mary

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

The south-facing garden contains seven distinct areas. Colour-themed beds run the gamut from whites and pastel pales to magentas and yellows of the vibrant hot beds.  At the garden’s far end lie a shady woodland garden and a fernery, and one of three ponds. The multi-stemmed silver birch ‘jacquemontii’ comes into its own in the dark winter months.  The woodland garden is also home to a forest pansy (Cercis canadensis), whose heart-shaped leaves flame fiery red in the autumn.

– Jan

Light refreshments provided

Small back garden backing onto Manor Park Cemetery.  3 patio areas, bird feeders, assorted shrubs, herbs and flowering plants.  The garden contains lots of scavenged, found or reclaimed items, many from the streets and skips of Newham.  Small children will need to be closely supervised as there are quite a few items of metal work hanging/standing around the garden, some of them sharp or heavy.

– Lisa

This 15x4m garden started as a low maintenance green space for a drink in the sun, including a mow-twice-a-year meadow. It has evolved into a wildlife friendly garden where most plants are selected for their benefits to wildlife, which made it a winner in the Wildlife Trusts/RHS “Big Wildlife Garden” competition in 2012. The latest changes are inspired by the tranquillity of Japanese gardens, including gravel stream, tsukubai and a pergola (with green roof) inspired by a tea house. There is still space for a drink in the sun though!

– Thierry

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

 Plants for sale

My garden is unusual in that it is wide and L-shaped which allows me to have a vegetable garden all along the back. Other parts of the garden are a mixture of perennials, annuals, climbers, roses, fruit trees and shrubs. There is a small octagonal greenhouse and a water feature. Recycled bottles form borders and there are a few sculptures tucked in here and there. There are alpine troughs and many pots of agapanthus, dahlias, hostas and so on in the back yard. Clipped box give some structure and there are shady and sunny beds as well as a couple of seating areas.

– Penny

Light refreshments provided

Plants for sale

Featured on TV and in the national press, this is a spectacular garden People come from all across London to see this amazing garden – the front garden hints at the delights to come at the back.

Originally a traditional narrow London garden, an additional space across the end offers the opportunity for an unbelievable range of plants to thrive. Everywhere you look, there are creative ideas and novel use of everyday objects. Several ponds, one with Koi carp, adjoin small sheds full of interesting objects. As the seasons change, the garden seems to transform and reinvent itself.

By opening her garden every year Janet Daniels raises thousands of pounds for charity. Plants for sale.

– Janet

Front garden only. I’m a summer person which is why I painted the front of my house yellow.  Add orange flowers and I hope it gives everyone a lift even on the dullest days.  So please come for soft drinks and nibbles and a lot of orangeness even if the skies are grey – which hopefully they won’t be!!

– Kathy

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

Plants for sale

Front and back gardens, the back being only slightly larger than the front, divided into a series of rectangles, giving sunny and shady areas that range from bone dry to more moist. No lawn but some paved and gravel areas and a small raised water feature. I have trees (is my palm tree the tallest in Forest Gate?), fruit trees, and vegetables and soft fruit in raised beds and pots. Flowerbeds mix perennials, shrubs, bulbs and grasses. I have far too many pots of all sizes. Some contain succulents, dahlias, cannas, an oleander and an olive tree; others hang on walls and arches or collect along paths and in corners.

– Hedy

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

My garden back and front is full of greenery. The front is dominated by several large shrubs, the back is dominated by trees and shrubs. There is a pond – I aim to keep it natural and encourage wildlife – it does its own thing as well as giving some structure.

– Sally

Light refreshments provided

Plants for sale

Featured on TV and in the national press, this is a spectacular garden People come from all across London to see this amazing garden – the front garden hints at the delights to come at the back.

Originally a traditional narrow London garden, an additional space across the end offers the opportunity for an unbelievable range of plants to thrive. Everywhere you look, there are creative ideas and novel use of everyday objects. Several ponds, one with Koi carp, adjoin small sheds full of interesting objects. As the seasons change, the garden seems to transform and reinvent itself.

By opening her garden every year Janet Daniels raises thousands of pounds for charity. Plants for sale.

– Janet

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

The garden of my new house is bare but has enormous potential. Come and give me ideas for my dream garden. I want raised beds, at least one water feature, herbs, low maintenance. I have a reasonable budget. At the moment there is a large scrubby lawn, a path round the outside, a small paved area and a shed. I brought a lot of pots with me that I need to plant in beds.

Do a Monty Don with the felt pens and paper. Activity to keep the children occupied while you fantasise.

– Myanah

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

When we moved in, the only plants in the back garden were 2 apple trees and a rose bush. The front garden was a sea of concrete surrounded by massive privet hedges. Neither of us had gardened before! Lacking the capacity to change it, we kept the hard landscaping and the garden today has evolved over 29 years as we have learned. The walled back garden has borders planted with shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ferns, grasses & annuals surrounding a rectangular lawn. We perforated the sea of concrete and filled the holes with plants that survive the dry, sunny aspect.

– Veronica

Light refreshments provided

My front garden was initially quite formal, planted with rose bushes and heucheras but now self seeding has transformed the borders.

The back garden is walled, has a lawn (grand children’s play space) surrounded by ornamental grasses, mature shrubs, fuchsia’s, Japanese anemones, Cranes-bill geraniums and heucheras. I like plants with variegated leaves. It is also home to our tortoise…..see if you can find him!!

– Gillian

Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

 Fully accessible

Saturday only, no ticket required.

Beautiful park with dipping pond, children’s playground, lake, small orchard, woodland and nature trail with carved animals, wildlife friendly raised beds, sports field, outdoor fitness equipment and picnic tables. Wheelchair access, including some play equipment.

Forest Lane Lodge will be accessible on the day for toilets and refreshments and can also be hired throughout the year.

Park tours will leave from Forest Lane Lodge at 2pm and 3pm

See more

Light refreshments provided

 Plants for sale

 Fully accessible

Over 100 volunteers have transformed a derelict site into a beautiful wildlife Community Garden. Over 2 years the site was cleared, raised beds, paths, and a pond were built, using sustainable and reclaimed materials where possible. A wide variety of plants, including herbs beds and a wildflower area, provide colour from Spring to late Autumn and encourage wild-life. Schools and community groups use the Garden, and regular music events are held.

Grow Your Health sessions run on Friday mornings, plants are available from our Plant Nursery in return for donations

Currently the garden is open on Thursday afternoons, Fridays and Saturday mornings. More volunteers are always needed to help open the Garden.

Join here

Light refreshments provided

 Plants for sale

Remembering how, as children, we played in our front garden and Nana Lily would stand at the gate to talking to passers-by; I decided to take the car out of the garden and invite people to join me in this space.

Neighbours, family, friends, locals and guests of my family home, Grove Guest House, have come together to make a series of artworks in this garden – including the Snail’s Progress now installed in Forest Gate Community Garden.

See the sculptures Murial, John Gurney and the Unicorn; the hedge I planted with my dad 55 years ago – and join in with activities in the front garden on the day!

– Hazel

The main feature in the garden is our beautiful handmade greenhouse built from recycled stained glass sourced from local buildings and architectural salvage. The garden is still a work in progress and includes a kitchen garden and herbaceous borders.

– Kate

 Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

A long, narrow, walled, south facing garden with still traces of its Victorian history in its planting, York paving and flint edging. There are mature trees which have been much reduced in the past two years which has opened up the space to allow more light and planting space.

Our children have grown up playing here, but now we are reclaiming the garden, with much help, to be more manageable for us in our old age and a good place to sit and enjoy a cup of tea.

It is still a work in progress, of course.

– Barbara

 Light refreshments provided

 Plants for sale

End of terrace Victorian house with small front garden and large north facing back garden. Front garden has bedsplanted with small trees and woodland style planting. A new bed of alpine and succulents is being created. The rear garden has several borders planted with perennials and annuals. There are also areas of gravel planting. There is a wooden gazebo and patio. There are several large specimen plants including bamboo, trachycarpus fortunei and Cordyline. The garden has several dry shady areas. Various sculptures and pots. A collection of more tender plants is in the conservatory.

– Ken

 Light refreshments provided

 Dogs on leads welcome

The garden has been influenced by my many travels and chosen exotic like bushes.  I am in the process of adding accessories made by Forest Gate artists. This also has benefit on the environment is that it requires little watering and is sustained by home-made compost.

– Kina