Hardy Plant Society

A day of Seed Sowing at the Culpeper Community Garden in Islington, North London

On Sunday 13 March 2011, the Hardy Plant Society held a seed sowing event at the Culpeper Community Garden in North London. The Culpeper Garden was founded in 1982 and provides a green oasis in the middle of the inner city. The garden covers approximately one acre consists of a communal area with a pond as well as garden plots for local people who have no gardens and a meeting/resource room. Children from local schools use the garden. It is named after Nicholas Culpeper, the famous herbalist, whose books were printed in nearby Clerkenwell.

Funding for the event was approved from the Kenneth Black Legacy and seed came from the HPS seed distribution scheme, after the needs of members had been met. Beverley Powlesland agreed to run the event and Tony Rogers from the Essex Group came along to help.

It all started quite sedately in the resource room. Beverley set out the tables with help from the Culpeper team. Elizabeth, Chairman of the Community Garden put on the kettle and set out a range of cakes and sandwiches on a rather refined three tier cake stand. Chairs were arranged and we were all ready to begin. We did not know how many people to expect but Elizabeth thought it would be around 25. Despite the rain a few people arrived. The first was a young woman from Canada who had seen the notice at another garden across London. She was followed by a couple who lived locally and originated from Poland but who had never visited the Garden before. Then came some of the regular visitors to the Garden. Introductions were made and Beverley got under way with an introduction to seeds, composts, labelling, watering, pricking out and aftercare.

I don’t think that I have ever seen such enthusiasm for seed sowing. Most had never sown seed before. Everyone was invited to choose their seed, write their label, mix their compost and sow. The space was confined and because of the rain it was elbows all round. The rain eased off and more people arrived including 3 very enthusiastic regular gardening children who disappeared with their seed trays to a secret place in the Garden.

In all about 30 people attended during the 4 hours we were there and all left with seeds sown in whatever receptacles were available with plans for creating their own bit of garden on their windowsill or balcony. This included consideration of aspect and the shelter needed at the fourth or fifth floor.

By two o’clock we had run out of seed and people started to prick out some of the seedlings that Beverley had brought. Everyone left with a copy of the HPS booklet on Seed Sowing. I don’t think there is any doubt that there are horticulturalists, budding and fully grown, living in Islington and waiting for their seed to germinate.

Vivienne