Olden Gardens has a beautiful orchard of apples, pears, plum, quince and apricot trees on a railway embankment, part of a 2-acre community garden.
Where can I find it?
Opposite 22 Whistler Street, Islington N5 1NJ. It is a short walk from Arsenal tube or Drayton Park train station.
Can I visit?
If you live locally you can be a keyholder, and it is open to volunteers on the 3rd Saturday of the month. It is also a beautiful venue available to hire, more information here: www.oldencommunitygarden.org.uk
Photo credit Steve Bainbridge
What can you find there?
- 11 Apple trees (Cox’s Orange Pippin, Greensleeves, Golden Delicious and Rev Wilkes)
- 2 pear
- 2 plum
- 2 quince
- 1 apricot
History of orchard
The gardens are on the site of a former railway depot and were turned into a community garden in 1986 by local residents. Most of the orchard was planted around 2000, but one of the apple trees is around 100 years old.
Orchard Community
Olden Gardens website: http://www.oldengarden.org
Regular volunteer work days on third Saturday of the month. Age UK runs monthly “Get Together” gardening sessions. Students from City and Islington College, and pupils from Drayton Park primary school visit to learn about horticulture. Friends of Gillespie Park hold an annual Apple Day.
If you would like to get involved, contact: Olden Gardens Membership Secretary Jill McKeown 020 7226 0222.
Working Together
The Orchard Project worked with local volunteers in 2017/18 to mulch and prune the fruit trees, identify the varieties, label the trees, and create a map of the orchard. We provided an orchard management plan and advice on tree surgery. We took part in the local Apple Day in Gillespie Park and ran a workshop for pupils from Drayton Park primary.
