Abbeyfield wild garden
Staff and residents at The Abbeyfield Society’s assisted living apartments for older people in Wanstead have started transforming a boring patch of grass with little biodiversity value into a new wildlife garden that will start providing food and shelter for a wealth of creatures as it establishes and grows over the coming months and years.
The garden includes a number of key features to help London’s ailing wildlife. Two wildflower meadow areas were made by lifting and removing turf, before raking the earth over and planting a British wildflower seed mix that contains more than 15 different species, such as Yarrow, Knapweed, Meadowsweet, Cowslips and Ragged Robin. Once established, the flowers should provide a lasting display across summer and will just need cutting once a year in September. Floral native shrubs have been dotted around the edges of the garden area, including Hawthorn, Crab Apple, Dog Rose and Honeysuckle.

By the patio, two more traditional flowerbeds have been dug out and filled with bee-loving garden plants like Hardy Geraniums, Alliums, Verbena and Periwinkles. And the garden has been completed with a couple of heritage apple trees and a fantastic bug house and planter, made using reclaimed wood by a local resident.
The Abbeyfield Society is a charity for older people that aims to tackle loneliness and isolation. They hope the new wild garden will provide a place for residents at the flats to come together to tend and enjoy.