Green Dreams create an oasis at Island House
23 June 2009
On 30th June, Island House on Roserton St (Isle of Dogs), will launch its completely transformed outside space. Landscape designer Julia Hilton at the Bromley by Bow Centre Green Dreams social enterprise worked in partnership with artists and designers to bring a new and exciting facility to this busy community centre.
Together they have created a unique and characterful area with great aesthetic appeal and features that can be accessed by all the centre users. Newleaf Landscaping carried out the hard landscaping for the project. Previously the somewhat neglected garden area was used just by the nursery group and for only part of the year. The stairway from the children’s nursery into the garden was steep and unattractive, causing an obstruction to the ground-level adult meeting rooms.
Under this £85K scheme, funded by Tower Hamlets Early Years Capital Funding and Isle of Dogs Community Foundation Millenium Quarter, the whole space has been transformed by Green Dreams. The stairs have been replaced with attractive, resin-panelled, child-friendly steps. Imaginative play features have been introduced including dens, sandpit with boulders and water play with dams. Larger features include a new terrace with level access, a willow den and a birch thatched play tower. This previously under-used space now has a fire-pit barbeque to encourage greater use on sunny days and balmy winter evenings.
Green Dreams have an ethos for creating integrated spaces, finding innovative ways to encourage the whole community to use and enjoy a green space. Play equipment doubles as seating. Willow dens become family play rooms. People gather round communal barbeques. This is all set off with imaginative hand-crafted fencing and intelligent planting to create a beautiful sense of place. Contributing artists and designers include:
Read more about Green Dreams here.
For other contacts:
Alex Ball, NewleafLandscaping@hotmail.co.uk
Joc Hare, www.logjam.net
Adam Laurence, www.canofgas.co.uk
Kally Laurence, www.mrspantry.co.uk
Rob Longley, www.cranbrookiron.com
