Open Square Gardens Weekend

The spectacular Roof Gardens in Kensington - just one of over 200 gardens taking part in the weekend event

Organised by the London Parks and Gardens Trust, Open Garden Squares Weekend opens more than 200 gardens, located across 27 London boroughs over a single weekend. The gardens range from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental. They include classic London square gardens, roof gardens, community allotments, urban wildlife and ecology centres as well as the gardens of historic buildings, institutions, restaurants, schools and shops. 

Although Haringey isn't hugely well represented at eh moment, there a couple of Haringey participants and plenty more nearby.

Some Nearby Gardens Taking Part

Football fans can again tread the hallowed turf at Highbury Stadium Square (N5 1FE, Arsenal), the home of Arsenal until 2006. The stadium, designed by Archibald Leitch and built in the Art Deco style, has been converted into private apartments. Usually closed to the public, the pitch is now a stylish contemporary garden, comprising evergreen hedges and grassy spaces, intersected by perspex walls with integrated lighting and water features. Tours to be booked in advance.

Fenton House & Garden (NW3 6SP, Hampstead) is managed by the National Trust and boasts extensive walled gardens, a 17th-century manor house with formal terrace walks and lawns, a sunken rose garden, meadows, a kitchen garden with culinary herb borders and a historic orchard where more than 30 varieties of English apples grow. The planting is relaxed, and gives successive colour and interest throughout the year.

The Skip Garden (N1, King’s Cross) is a Capital Growth growing space and mobile allotment on the new King's Cross site, built by local partners as an example of organic urban agriculture on one of the largest development sites in Europe. The functions of an organic garden are organised into separate rubbish skips - including a growing house and green engine. The garden serves as an educational platform where local children, young people and business employees work together on tangible projects to improve local sustainability.

Forty Hall Farm (EN1 4RQ) is an organic farm run by Capel Manor College, the only further education college in London specialising in learning about the environment. A mixed farm with an orchard, market garden and a variety of animals, including many rare breeds, the Farm is home to London’s only organic commercial vineyard.

Clushtered near Winchmore Hill are two other gardens - the historic grade II-listed Winchmore Hill Friends Meeting House* (N21 1LE) boasting peaceful grounds that are semi-wild and managed on organic and Woodcroft Wildspace (N21 3QP), a tranquil 3.5-acre site rich with plants, trees and wildife in a variety of natural habitats, an orchard, wetlands, an apiary and open-air educational facilities. 

Just £10.00 for all gardens all weekend.

Further into: www.opensquares.org

* This garden has a local connection, being the burial place of the parent of Edward Gray, builder of Harringay House.