Plans are underway to create a community garden at St Barnabas Church in Homerton, Hackney council has announced.
Core Landscapes, an initiative of Core Arts, will use the project for outdoor activities to help people suffering from mental health issues.
Their existing site will be extended onto unused land behind the church.
Hackney Council has announced £95,000 to the support the project from its Community Fund – a £500,000 grant scheme supporting nine local initiatives across the borough.
Among the proposed features are a teaching area and greenhouse, designed to reflect the aesthetics of the historic St Barnabas Church.
The garden will also incorporate plants used in Core Landscapes’ gold medal-winning installation at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.
Construction is expected to take three years with the help of volunteers.
Speaking to the Hackney Post, project director Nemone Mercer said: “The whole ethos of the project is sustainability, so we want to demonstrate sustainable greening techniques such as water harvesting, organic food growing, medicinal planting and using recycled materials.”
The project is one of many contributions made by Core Landscape to Homerton. Last August it gave Wardle Street a wildflower meadow and orchard.
Core Landscapes is encouraging anyone interested in volunteering to contact @corelandscapeslondon on Instagram or visit www.core-landscapes.co.uk.
