Sunnyside Community Gardens is a community garden in Archway, in the north of the London Borough of Islington, which specialises in therapeutic horticulture for people with disabilities, and those recovering from illness. The Gardens were established in 1977, and registered as a charity in 1992.
Local residents set up Sunnyside and it has developed into a beautiful organic garden, designated a site of importance for nature conservation, with a wildlife pond. It is a tranquil and peaceful green oasis for local people, many of whom live in flats without gardens.
Although we are operating from a port cabin (our building was damaged by an arsonist, for the second time, and has been demolished) we still have two disabled clients who come every week to engage in horticulture, or when the weather is inclement, arts and crafts, as well as other people who self-refer and gain wellbeing and peace of mind.
Local residents also use the gardens, to walk through, sit in, reconnect with nature and to socialise.
We are in the process of revitalising the organisation after a period of decline, including working towards a new and better building. We hold monthly seasonal events to encourage use of the gardens and most of our gardening is done by volunteers.
The management committee meets once a month as well as holding monthly events; we have a fundraising strategy and recently secured funding to renovate our wildlife pond; last summer we had a wild flower meadow donated to us.
We also have a small allotment area which is not open access and recently secured funding for a growing project there with vulnerable and/or disadvantaged members of the community.
