By Shaelyn Stout
Founder James Wheale discusses recent closure and plans for the future
The Nomadic Community Garden (NCG), located off Brick Lane in London’s Hackney borough, was permanently closed to the public on 31 December 2019. On a brighter note, founder James Wheale says the garden brought communities together for four years longer than originally anticipated.
Opened 1 May 2015 as a temporary fixture, the garden became a 4+ year endeavor that grew “not just plants but social networks too” says Wheale.
The landowners originally offered six months for the project, but only recently has the land been cleared for planned development (likely flats).
Wheale and friend Junior Mtonga opened the garden to make use of undeveloped space and bring their community together. They are both experienced gardeners who “understand the therapeutic [nature of] and commonality that goes with gardening”, says Wheale.
The Nomadic Community Garden had a considerable effect on the community, Wheale said. “It has made a big impact on the way open space can be considered and used to help local communities.”
Visiting from Newcastle, writer Amy Brown, 20, responded to the closing.
“Hopefully the space is used well so the garden can be full of life again,” she said.
Her first visit to the closed Nomadic Community Garden was in January this year.
“Stumbling upon the [NCG] was surreal. Despite everything being left behind, there was a calmness present. There was so much to look at and so many signs of what once went on there.”
In the name of reduced waste, all useful items have been removed from the garden, though the rest will likely end up in landfill. Wheale mentioned most items in the garden had been repurposed, so their time at NCG simply prolonged a journey to the dump.
Despite the garden’s closing, Wheale feels great about the Nomadic Community Garden closing: “It was time to move on, we never thought we would have as long as we did.”
As far as goals for future projects, Wheale and Mtonga are talking to developers and social organisations about potentially opening more spaces to bring communities together.
“Time will tell,” says Wheale.
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