• Home
• |
• About us
• |
• News
• |
• The art of gardening in Queen's Park

The art of gardening in Queen's Park

The gardening club on the Mozart estate in Queen’s Park celebrated their first birthday by unveiling a stunning new mural, painted by a local artist, around their main gardening site.

The MozArt gardening club was set up by CityWest Homes, who manage the estate, to encourage more residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables and save money on their grocery bills.

The club, with more than 30 residents signed up, now has three different growing sites across the estate. The sites were former anti-social behaviour hot spots with one area used by gangs for drug dealing. It is now a peaceful garden with a comfortable garden seat and potato, tomato and carrot plants spilling over the boxed allotments.

As club members fussed over their spring onions and raspberries, local artist Brian Okello (25) explained the vision behind his mural. A Leeds College of Art and Design graduate, Brian used spray paint to create the unique mural across two large sections of wall.

He said: “I love illustration and I grew up with cartoons, so that was my inspiration. When Guy from the estate team told me what it was all about, community and gardening, I combined all those elements to draw the mural. I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out.”

Resident and club member Mary Doherty (78), who has won awards for her gardening, said she and fellow club member Abi Oluwa were very impressed with the mural because it brightened up the dull grey walls. Ward councillor Patricia McAlister added: “It really brings the garden to life.”

Hisham Hadjali, resident and father-of-three, said his allotment space in Mozart is his first foray into gardening.

He said: “There’s not a lot of gardening space in central London, you have to travel far to get it. Having the garden boxes is encouraging my children to eat more vegetables and get involved with digging the soil and planting. I’m looking forward to finding out what grows well here and using the produce in our meals.”

CityWest Homes area manager Barry Montgomerie said: “The Mozart grow your own project has just been shortlisted for a Sustainable Housing award, which is a fantastic acknowledgement of the work we’re doing here.

“We have a waiting list for the allotments so we’re hoping to expand the project this year by creating more allotments at our existing sites where possible and open new growing sites on some of our neighbouring estates.”