Give it a Grow

What is it about garden centres and hairdressers that makes them so fond of a pun? I quite enjoy a good one myself and anyway am a staunch supporter of Growing Concerns hidden between the Hertford Union Canal and St Marks Gate entrance to Victoria Park. This charming community garden centre in a lovely spot is run by a relaxed and knowledgeable group of people, offering a wide range of plants and accessories, all reasonably priced. They serve coffee and ice cream too. Growing Concerns, as one of the few small, locally run garden centres in Hackney, indeed the whole of the East End, is a special place that deserves support. After a very long wait, it has only recently received support from British Waterways and Capital Growth to transform their area from a 20-year old rubbish dump to a wildlife haven, orchard and vegetable patch. They have just kicked off their season of Community Growing Workshops, every Saturday 11am–1pm (by donation, call or email to reserve a space). Currently aimed at children and their carers, it is hoped to host workshops for adults only too.