How Hackney residents transformed an unloved part of a green on the edge of the A12 into a field of spectacular wildflowers.
Hugging the edge of one of the main roads into London, the roughly mown grass of Mabley Meadow wouldn’t usually warrant a second glance. But last summer residents were delighted to see the area explode in a riot of colour, covered with wildflowers and buzzing with wildlife.
The transformation was brought about by community group, Mabley Green Users Group, working in partnership with Hackney Council.
From wasted space to popular picnic area
“We were initially concerned about the decline in local wildlife,” said Project Leader and nearby resident Chris King. “This was a wasted space: a flat, mown grass desert which was doing nothing for biodiversity or for the community – I only ever saw people walking through as quickly as possible.
“The council were incredibly helpful when we explained what we wanted to do and they helped us prepare the areas for sowing. We stripped back the turf and scattered Pictorial Meadow seed mixtures last March. The parks team relaxed their mowing regime for the summer and we sat back and waited,” he continued.
Any anxieties about dry conditions (after an incredibly dry May and June) were put to rest in July, when the meadow burst into colour with a mixture of cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), poppies, fairy toadflax, red flax (Linum grandiflorum) and bishop's flower (Ammi Majus). And relaxing the mowing regime meant that yarrow (Achillea millefolium), cow parsley and clover joined the display.
“The change has been amazing,” said Chris. “Last summer was the first time I’d seen people lingering in the meadow, taking photos, some even having picnics. The bee population exploded and we got more birds too.”
A simple idea with dramatic results
Sam Parry, Parks Development Manager at Hackney Council said, "The Mabley Green Community Meadow is a fantastic example of what happens when passionate local people have a great idea and the determination to see it through. The idea was essentially quite simple, but the result is truly dramatic."
The group are aiming for year-round planting and have been busy putting in crocus and daffodil bulbs and planting test patches of native bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), snakeshead lily (Fritillaria meleagris), star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum) and glory of the snow (Chionodoxa).
They have also secured Big Lottery funding and plan to install two new carved benches in the meadow, along with launching a programme of events this summer celebrating the new space and the blossoming community that is growing around it.
Mabley Green Users Group is an award-winning community gardening group in East London, winner of last year’s RSPB/ TfL Life Between the Lines competition and third prize in London in Bloom’s Community Garden award.