The project was designed by a team of design students in their final year at the American Intercontinental University in London with structural input provided by Buro Happold. The first of its kind in a public park, the project has been commissioned by Islington Council and Initiated by FROGG (FRiends of Greenville Gardens), whom represent the community.
The site, in Islington is contaminated by the presence of Japanese knotweed and no planting can be in contact with the ground for a period of three years to allow treatment.
The project consists of 18 individual wooden planters each built and stewarded by an individual family in the surrounding community. Each plugs into an elevated wooden structure and watering system that channels harvested rainwater collected from an adjacent rooftop.
The project has been featured in the Architecture Festival open house and many publications and Phase 02 of its realization will include more boxes and a small filtering soak-away pool .

What we'll deliver:

• Additional green walls, bird/bat boxes and a soakaway pool are also being planned
• Phase 2 will include additional veg boxes for an Eco therapy initiative with local inhabitants of the community .

Why it's a great idea:

The project thus far has been successful as a catalyst for social cohesion of the surrounding community. All of our planned activities are aimed at improving the quality of life for all individuals and continuing to develop a cohesive and vibrant neighborhood.
Individuals will benefit both physically and mentally because they will be growing healthy, organic food, plus doing physical work in the fresh air as a group.
Eco-therapy is aimed at reaching vulnerable, isolated individuals with mental disabilities. It will focus on improving their mental and physical health, integrating them into the community and encouraging them to participate and volunteer in other activities. This may give them the opportunity and confidence to return to work at some stage. Some of these individuals may be at present a risk to the safety of our community. Research shows that eco-therapy reduces anger and therefore could be beneficial to the safety of the whole neighborhood.

Steps to get it done:

• Once funding is secured the project will look for sponsoring professionals who will be available to work on site.

We are a Capital Growth space.